Saɱyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
21. Bhikkhu Saɱyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
II. The Book Called the Nidāna-Vagga
Containing Kindred sayings on Cause
and Other Subjects
21. Kindred Sayings about Brethren
Sutta 8
Nanda Suttaɱ
Nanda
Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by F. L. Woodward
Originally Published by
The Pali Text Society
Public Domain
The Exalted One was once staying near Savatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
[2] Now the venerable Nanda,
nephew of the Exalted One's mother,
donning robes that had been dressed on both sides,[1]
painting his eyes
and taking a bright, clean bowl,
went into the presence of the Exalted One,
saluted him,
and took his seat beside him.
[3] To him so seated the Exalted One said: —
[4] "Not meet is it for thee, Nanda,
who as a clansman,
left the world infaith,
going from home to the homeless,
to don robes that have been dressed on both sides,
to paint thine eyes
and bear about a bright, spotless bowl.
Meet for thee, Nanda,
is it that thou shouldst be a forest-dweller,
an almsman
and a ragged robeman,
and that thou shouldst dwell
unheeding desires of sense."
[5] The Exalted One spake this.
The Wellfarer so saying, the Master spake this yet further: —
Maybe some day shall I see
Nanda a forest-votary,
In gear cast out he knows not whence,
His maintenance supplied
By food he knows as cast aside,[2]
Heedless to calls of sense.
[6] Then the venerable Nanda after that became a forest-dweller and an almsman, and a rag-robeman, heedless as to desires of sense.
[1] This method, corresponding posssibly to our 'presssing cloth,' is described as rapping with hand or mallet, and again rapping after reversing the cloth. Cf. Dhammapada, Comy. i, 37. On Nanda see Udāna, p. 21, Pss. of the Brethren, p. 46. B. here states that he 'got himself up' to evoke an opinion from his cousin — either 'truly this little brother of mine is beautiful!' or a fault-finding — that he might dress accordingly for the rest of his life.
[2] So the Comy. 'marked off when choice food is selected for the great folk.' Cf. Pss. of the Sisters, p. 144, n.1.
