Araññasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.10

Linked Discourses 1.10

1. Naḷavagga

1. A Reed

Araññasutta

Wilderness

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Araññe viharantānaṁ,

“Living in the wilderness,

santānaṁ brahmacārinaṁ;

peaceful spiritual practitioners

Ekabhattaṁ bhuñjamānānaṁ,

eat just one meal a day:

kena vaṇṇo pasīdatī”ti.

so why is their complexion so clear?”

“Atītaṁ nānusocanti,

“They don’t grieve for the past,

nappajappanti nāgataṁ;

nor do they pray for the future;

Paccuppannena yāpenti,

they feed on whatever comes that day,

tena vaṇṇo pasīdati.

that’s why their complexion’s so clear.

Anāgatappajappāya,

Because they pray for the future,

atītassānusocanā;

and grieve for the past,

Etena bālā sussanti,

fools wither away,

naḷova harito luto”ti.

like a green reed mowed down.”

Naḷavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Oghaṁ nimokkhaṁ upaneyyaṁ,

Accenti katichindi ca;

Jāgaraṁ appaṭividitā,

Susammuṭṭhā mānakāminā;

Araññe dasamo vutto,

Vaggo tena pavuccati.