Saɱyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
20. Opamma-Saɱuttaɱ
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
II. The Book Called the Nidāna-Vagga
Containing Kindred sayings on Cause
and Other Subjects
20. Kindred Sayings on Parables
Sutta 8
Kaliṅgara Suttaɱ
Straw
Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by F. L. Woodward
Originally Published by
The Pali Text Society
Public Domain
[1] Thus have I heard:
The Exalted One was once staying at Vesali in the Great Wood at the Gable Hall.
[2] There he addressed the brethren:-
"Brethren."
"Lord,"[1] they replied.
The Exalted One spake this:-
"Sleeping on couches of straw, brethren,
such now is the way of the Licchavis;
strenuous are they
and zealous in their service.[2]
Against them Ajatasattu,
son of the Vedehi [princess],
king of Magadha,
gets no access,
gets no occasion.
In the coming days, brethren,
the Licchavis will become delicate,
soft and tender
in hands and feet.
On soft couches,
on pillows of down
they will lie till rise of sun.
Against them Ajatasattu
son of the Vedehi [princess],
king of Magadha,
will get access,
will get occasion.[3]
Sleeping on couches of straw, brethren,
- such now is the way of the brethren,
strenuous are they
and ardent in their energy.
To them Māra
the evil one
gets no access.
Against them he gets no occasion.
In the coming days, brethren,
the brethren will become delicate,
soft and tender in hands and feet.
On soft couches,
on pillows of down
they will lie till rise of sun.
To them Māra
the evil one
will gain access.
Against [180] them he will find occasion.
Wherefore, brethren,
thus must ye train yourselves:
'We will use couches of straw,
strenuous and zealous in energy'
- even thus.
[1] See p. 1, n.*. [Bhadante.
[2] As very skilful, hardy archers. Comy.
[3] On the struggle between Ajāsattu and the Vajjian confederation, in which the Licchavi republic was the predominant member, cf. Dialogues ii, 78 f.; Buddhist India, pp. 25, 26, 40 f. Mr. B.C. Law, J.A.S.B., xvii (N.S.), 1921, has collected the available materials, early and late, about them.
