Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
14. Rāja Vaggo

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XIV: The Rajah

Sutta 137

Appaṃ-Supati Suttaṃ

They Sleep Little

 

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[118]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, these five sleep little by night,
they are much awake.

What five?

[119] A woman longing for a man
sleeps little by night,
is much awake;

■

a man longing for a woman
sleeps little by night,
is much awake;

■

a thief longing for booty
sleeps little by night,
is much awake;

■

a rajah¹ bent on royal business
sleeps little by night,
is much awake;

■

a monk longing for bondage-release²
sleeps little by night,
is much awake.

Verily, monks, these five sleep little by night,
they are much awake.'

 

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¹ The text reads rājayutto, but v.l. and S.e. simply rājā.

² Comy: evaṃ nibbānajjhāsayo.