Saṃyutta Nikāya
I. Sagātha Vagga
9. Vana-Saṃyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
I. Kindred Sayings with Verses
9. The Forest Suttas
Sutta 7
Nāgadatta Suttaṃ
Nāgadatta
Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by Sūriyagoḍa Sumangala Thera
Copyright The Pali Text Society. Public Domain.
[7.1] THUS HAVE I HEARD: —
The venerable Nāgadatta[1] was once staying among the Kosalese
in a certain forest-tract.
Now at that time the venerable Nāgadatta
went too early to the village
and returned in the afternoon.
Then a deva who haunted [256] that forest,
moved by compassion,
desiring his welfare,
and wishing to agitate him,
drew near and addressed him in the verses: —
"[Into the town] betimes, 0 Nāgadatta,
Thou hiest thee, erst after noon[2] returning,
Too long a time with laymen thou consortest,
[Spending thyself] in pleasure and in sorrow.[3]
And much I fear lest this same Nāgadatta,
So reckless, in society entangled,
May fall into the clutches of the Death-king,
The Ender [of so many hopes and chances]."
Then the venerable Nāgadatta, agitated by that deva, was greatly moved.
[1] We have not met with him elsewhere.
[2] Divā. Comy.; majjhantike.
[3] B. gives no comment on this unfamiliar compound, samānasu-khadukkho.
