Upāsakasutta

Udāna 2.5

Heartfelt Sayings 2.5

Upāsakasutta

A Lay Follower

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena aññataro icchānaṅgalako upāsako sāvatthiṁ anuppatto hoti kenacideva karaṇīyena.

Now at that time a certain lay follower from Icchānaṅgalaka arrived at Sāvatthī on some business.

Atha kho so upāsako sāvatthiyaṁ taṁ karaṇīyaṁ tīretvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Having concluded his business in Sāvatthī he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ upāsakaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this to him:

“cirassaṁ kho tvaṁ, upāsaka, imaṁ pariyāyamakāsi yadidaṁ idhāgamanāyā”ti.

“It’s been a long time, lay follower, since you took the opportunity to come here.”

“Cirapaṭikāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamitukāmo, api cāhaṁ kehici kehici kiccakaraṇīyehi byāvaṭo. Evāhaṁ nāsakkhiṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

“For a long time I’ve wanted to come and see the Buddha, but I wasn’t able, being prevented by my many duties and responsibilities.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Sukhaṁ vata tassa na hoti kiñci,

“One who has nothing is happy indeed,

Saṅkhātadhammassa bahussutassa;

a learned person who has appraised the teaching.

Sakiñcanaṁ passa vihaññamānaṁ,

See how troubled are those with attachments,

Jano janasmiṁ paṭibandharūpo”ti.

a person bound tight to people.”

Pañcamaṁ.