Saṁyutta Nikāya
I. Sagātha Vagga
10. Yakkha-Saṁyutta

I. Kindred Sayings with Verses
10. The Yakkha Suttas

Sutta 11

Virā or Cīrā Suttaṁ

Virā (or Cīrā)¹

 

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[275]

THUS HAVE I HEARD: —

The Exalted One was once staying near Rājagaha,
in the Bamboo Grove,
at the Squirrels' Feeding-ground.

Now on that occasion a certain lay-follower
gave food to Virā the Bhikkhunī.

And a yakkha, enthusiastic about Sukkā,
went into Rājagaha,
going from chariot-road to chariot-road,
from crossways to crossways,
and in that hour uttered this verse: —

"0 surely plenteous merit hath he wrought,
That layman wise who Virā's wants supplied —
Virā, who from all bonds is wholly free!"

 

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¹ Virā as the feminine form of Vīra (cf. Pss. of the Brethren, VIII) would seem to be the more likely of the two. v and c in Singhalese are almost identical letters. Neither of them is found elsewhere. B. is silent.