Araññāyatanaisisutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.9

Linked Discourses 11.9

1. Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Araññāyatanaisisutta

Seers in the Wilderness

Sāvatthiyaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā araññāyatane paṇṇakuṭīsu sammanti.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, several seers who were ethical, of good character, settled in leaf huts in a wilderness region.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko ca devānamindo vepacitti ca asurindo yena te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.

Then Sakka, lord of gods, and Vepacitti, lord of titans, went to those seers.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo paṭaliyo upāhanā ārohitvā khaggaṁ olaggetvā chattena dhāriyamānena aggadvārena assamaṁ pavisitvā te isayo sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme apabyāmato karitvā atikkami.

Vepacitti put on his lined sandals, strapped on his sword, and, carrying a sunshade, entered the hermitage through the main gate. He walked right past those seers, keeping them at arm’s length.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo paṭaliyo upāhanā orohitvā khaggaṁ aññesaṁ datvā chattaṁ apanāmetvā dvāreneva assamaṁ pavisitvā te isayo sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme anuvātaṁ pañjaliko namassamāno aṭṭhāsi.

Sakka took off his lined sandals, gave his sword to others, and, putting down his sunshade, entered the hermitage through the same gate. He stood downwind of those seers, revering them with cupped palms.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:

Then those seers addressed Sakka in verse:

‘Gandho isīnaṁ ciradikkhitānaṁ,

‘When seers have been long initiated,

Kāyā cuto gacchati mālutena;

the odor of their bodies goes with the gale.

Ito paṭikkamma sahassanetta,

You’d better leave, O thousand-eyed!

Gandho isīnaṁ asuci devarājā’ti.

The odor of the seers is unclean, king of gods.’

‘Gandho isīnaṁ ciradikkhitānaṁ,

‘When seers have been long initiated,

Kāyā cuto gacchatu mālutena;

let the odor of their bodies go with the gale.

Sucitrapupphaṁ sirasmiṁva mālaṁ,

We yearn for this odor, sirs,

Gandhaṁ etaṁ paṭikaṅkhāma bhante;

like a colorful crown of flowers.

Na hettha devā paṭikūlasaññino’”ti.

The gods don’t see it as repulsive.’”