Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
XXI: Kimbila-Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
Chapter XXI Kimbila
Sutta 209
Gītassara Suttaṃ
The Plain-song[1]
Translated by E. M. Hare
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[1]'Monks, there are these five disadvantages
to one preaching Dhamma
in a long-drawn,[2] plain-song voice.
What five?
He is either carried away himself[3] by the sound;
or others are carried away thereby;
or householders are offended and say:
"Just as we sing,
for sure,
these recluse Sakya sons sing!";
or as he strives alter purity of sound,
there is a break in concentration;
and folk coming after
fall into the way of (wrong) views.[4]
Verily, monks, these are the five disadvantages
to one preaching Dhamma
in a long-drawn, plain-song voice.'
[1] This recurs at Vin. ii, 108 (S.B.E. xx, 72); gītā.
[2] Āyatakena. Comy. dīghena ...
[3] Attanā pi sārajjati, v.l. attā.
[4] Cf. above, § 79; below V, § 218.
