Aṅguttara-Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
23. Dīgha-Cārika Vagga

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XXIII: Wandering Afield

Sutta 221

Paṭhama Dīgha-Cārika Suttaṃ

Wandering Afield (a)

[188]

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, there are these five disadvantages
to one who spends his days wandering afield,
wandering aimlessly.

What five?

One¹ does not hear the not-heard;
one does not purge things heard;
one is not reassured by what one hears;
one is stricken by some grievous disease or illness;
and one is friendless.²

Monks, these are the five disadvantages
to one who spends his days wandering afield,
wandering aimlessly.'

"Monks, there are these five advantages
to one who spends his days wandering with an aim.

What five?

One hears the not-heard;
one purges things heard;
one is reassured by what one hears;
one is not stricken by some grievous disease or illness;
and one is not friendless.

Monks, these are the five advantages
to one who spends his days wandering with an aim.'

¹ Cf. above, § 202. Here text reads gāḷhaṃ, and so S.e.