Sambahulasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 9.4

Linked Discourses 9.4

1. Vanavagga

1. In the Woods

Sambahulasutta

Several Mendicants Set Out Wandering

Ekaṁ samayaṁ sambahulā bhikkhū kosalesu viharanti aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

At one time several mendicants were staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

Atha kho te bhikkhū vassaṁvuṭṭhā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamiṁsu.

Then after completing the three months of the rainy season residence, those mendicants set out wandering.

Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā te bhikkhū apassantī paridevamānā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Not seeing those mendicants, the deity haunting that forest cried. And on that occasion they spoke this verse:

“Arati viya mejja khāyati,

“Dissatisfaction,
it seems to me today,

Bahuke disvāna vivitte āsane;

seeing so many vacated seats.

Te cittakathā bahussutā,

They were so learned, such brilliant speakers!

Kome gotamasāvakā gatā”ti.

Where have these disciples of Gotama gone?”

Evaṁ vutte, aññatarā devatā taṁ devataṁ gāthāya paccabhāsi:

When they had spoken, another deity replied with this verse:

“Māgadhaṁ gatā kosalaṁ gatā,

“They’ve gone to Magadha, they’ve gone to Kosala,

Ekacciyā pana vajjibhūmiyā;

and some are in the Vajjian lands.

Magā viya asaṅgacārino,

Like deer that wander free of ties,

Aniketā viharanti bhikkhavo”ti.

the mendicants live with no abode.”