sutta » sn » sn8 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 8.1

Nikkhantasutta

Renounced Renounced

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
Thus have I heard.
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā vaṅgīso āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye āyasmatā nigrodhakappena upajjhāyena saddhiṁ.
On one occasion the Venerable Vaṅgīsa was dwelling at Āḷavī at the Aggāḷava Shrine together with his preceptor, the Venerable Nigrodhakappa.
At one time Venerable Vaṅgīsa was staying near Āḷavī, at the Aggāḷava Tree-shrine, together with his mentor, Venerable Nigrodhakappa.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā vaṅgīso navako hoti acirapabbajito ohiyyako vihārapālo.
Now on that occasion the Venerable Vaṅgīsa, newly ordained, not long gone forth, had been left behind as a caretaker of the dwelling.
Now at that time Vaṅgīsa was junior, recently gone forth. He had been left behind to look after the dwelling.

Atha kho sambahulā itthiyo samalaṅkaritvā yena aggāḷavako ārāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu vihārapekkhikāyo.
Then a number of women, beautifully adorned, approached the Aggāḷavaka Park in order to see the dwelling.
Then several women dressed in all their finery went to the monastery at Aggāḷava in order to inspect the dwelling.

Atha kho āyasmato vaṅgīsassa tā itthiyo disvā anabhirati uppajjati, rāgo cittaṁ anuddhaṁseti.
When the Venerable Vaṅgīsa saw those women, dissatisfaction arose in him; lust infested his mind.
When Vaṅgīsa saw them he became dissatisfied, with lust infecting his mind.

Atha kho āyasmato vaṅgīsassa etadahosi:
Then it occurred to him:
Then he thought,

“alābhā vata me, na vata me lābhā; dulladdhaṁ vata me, na vata me suladdhaṁ;
“It is a loss for me indeed, it is no gain for me!
“It’s my loss, my misfortune,

yassa me anabhirati uppannā, rāgo cittaṁ anuddhaṁseti, taṁ kutettha labbhā, yaṁ me paro anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādeyya.
It is a mishap for me indeed, it is not well gained by me, that dissatisfaction has arisen in me, that lust has infested my mind. How could anyone else dispel my dissatisfaction and arouse delight?
that I’ve become dissatisfied, with lust infecting my mind. How is it possible for someone else to dispel my discontent and give rise to satisfaction?

Yannūnāhaṁ attanāva attano anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādeyyan”ti.
Let me dispel my own dissatisfaction and arouse delight by myself.”
Why don’t I do it myself?”

Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso attanāva attano anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādetvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Then the Venerable Vaṅgīsa, having dispelled his own dissatisfaction and aroused delight by himself, on that occasion recited these verses:
Then, on the occasion of dispelling his own discontent and giving rise to satisfaction, he recited these verses:

“Nikkhantaṁ vata maṁ santaṁ,
“Alas, though I am one who has renounced,
“Now that I’ve renounced

agārasmānagāriyaṁ;
Gone from home into homelessness,
the home life for homelessness

Vitakkā upadhāvanti,
These thoughts still run over me,
I’m overrun

pagabbhā kaṇhato ime.
Impudent thoughts from the Dark One.
by the rude thoughts of the Dark One.

Uggaputtā mahissāsā,
“Even if mighty youths, great archers,
Even if a thousand mighty princes and great archers,

sikkhitā daḷhadhammino;
Trained men, masters of the bow,
well trained, with strong bows,

Samantā parikireyyuṁ,
A thousand such men who do not flee
were to completely surround me;

sahassaṁ apalāyinaṁ.
Should surround me on all sides,
I would never flee.

Sacepi etato bhiyyo,
And if women were to come here
And even if women come,

āgamissanti itthiyo;
Still more numerous than this,
many more than that,

Neva maṁ byādhayissanti,
They would never make me tremble
they won’t scare me,

dhamme samhi patiṭṭhitaṁ.
For I stand firmly in the Dhamma.
for I stand firm in the teaching.

Sakkhī hi me sutaṁ etaṁ,
“I have heard this as a witness
I heard this with my own ears

buddhassādiccabandhuno;
From the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun:
from the Buddha, kinsman of the Sun,

Nibbānagamanaṁ maggaṁ,
The path leading to Nibbāna—
about the path going to extinguishment;

tattha me nirato mano.
That is where my mind delights.
that’s what delights my mind.

Evañce maṁ viharantaṁ,
“If, while I am dwelling thus,
Wicked One, if you come near me

pāpima upagacchasi;
You approach me, Evil One,
as I meditate like this,

Tathā maccu karissāmi,
I will act in such a way, O Death,
I’ll make sure that you, Death,

na me maggampi dakkhasī”ti.
That you won’t even see my path.”
won’t even see the path I take.”