Saṁyutta Nikāya
I. Sagātha Vagga
9. Vana-Saṁyutta

I. Kindred Sayings with Verses
9. The Forest Suttas

Sutta 7

Nāgadatta Suttaṁ

Nāgadatta

 

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[255]

THUS HAVE I HEARD: —

The venerable Nāgadatta¹ was once staying among the Kosalese
in a certain forest-tract.

Now at that time the venerable Nāgadatta
went too early to the village
and returned in the afternoon.

Then a deva who haunted [256] that forest,
moved by compassion,
desiring his welfare,
and wishing to agitate him,
drew near and addressed him in the verses: —

"[Into the town] betimes, O Nāgadatta,
Thou hiest thee, erst after noon² returning,
Too long a time with laymen thou consortest,
[Spending thyself] in pleasure and in sorrow.³
And much I fear lest this same Nāgadatta,
So reckless, in society entangled,
May fall into the clutches of the Death-king,
The Ender [of so many hopes and chances]."

Then the venerable Nāgadatta, agitated by that deva, was greatly moved.

 

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¹ We have not met with him elsewhere.

² Divā. Comy.; majjhantike.

³ B. gives no comment on this unfamiliar compound, samānasu-khadukkho.