They Sleep Little

Translated by E. M. Hare

[1][olds][than] Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, these five sleep little by night,
they are much awake.

What five?

[119] A woman longing for a man
sleeps little by night,
is much awake;

■

a man longing for a woman
sleeps little by night,
is much awake;

■

a thief longing for booty
sleeps little by night,
is much awake;

■

a rajah^[1] bent on royal business
sleeps little by night,
is much awake;

■

a monk longing for bondage-release^[2]
sleeps little by night,
is much awake.

Verily, monks, these five sleep little by night,
they are much awake.'

^[1] The text reads rājayutto, but v.l. and S.e. simply rājā.

^[2] Comy: evaṃ nibbānajjhāsayo.