sutta » sn » sn9 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 9.14

Gandhatthenasutta

The Thief of Scent The Thief of Scent

Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.
On one occasion a certain bhikkhu was dwelling among the Kosalans in a certain woodland thicket.
At one time one of the mendicants was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto pokkharaṇiṁ ogāhetvā padumaṁ upasiṅghati.
Now on that occasion, when he had returned from his alms round, after his meal that bhikkhu used to descend into a pond and sniff a red lotus.
Now at that time, after the meal, on their return from almsround, that mendicant plunged into a lotus pond and sniffed a pink lotus.

Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tassa bhikkhuno anukampikā atthakāmā taṁ bhikkhuṁ saṁvejetukāmā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then the devatā that inhabited that woodland thicket, having compassion for that bhikkhu, desiring his good, desiring to stir up a sense of urgency in him, approached him and addressed him in verse:
The deity haunting that forest had compassion for that mendicant, and wanted what’s best for them. So they approached that mendicant wanting to stir them up, and addressed them in verse:

“Yametaṁ vārijaṁ pupphaṁ,
“When you sniff this lotus flower, An item that has not been given,
“This water flower has not been given.

adinnaṁ upasiṅghasi;
This is one factor of theft:
When you sniff it,

Ekaṅgametaṁ theyyānaṁ,
You, dear sir, are a thief of scent.”
this is one factor of theft.

gandhatthenosi mārisā”ti.
You, dear sir, are a thief of scent.”
Good sir, you are a thief of scent!”

“Na harāmi na bhañjāmi,
“I do not take, I do not damage,
“I do not take, nor do I break;

ārā siṅghāmi vārijaṁ;
I sniff the lotus from afar;
I sniff the water flower from afar.

Atha kena nu vaṇṇena,
So for what reason do you say
So based on what evidence

gandhatthenoti vuccati.
That I am a thief of scent?
do you call me a thief of scent?

Yvāyaṁ bhisāni khanati,
“One who digs up the lotus stalks,
Why don’t you accuse someone

puṇḍarīkāni bhañjati;
One who damages the flowers,
who does such vandalizing

Evaṁ ākiṇṇakammanto,
One of such rough behaviour:
as digging up the roots,

kasmā eso na vuccatī”ti.
Why is he not spoken to?”
or breaking off the flowers?”

“Ākiṇṇaluddo puriso,
“When a person is rough and fierce, Badly soiled like a nursing cloth,
“I have nothing to say

dhāticelaṁva makkhito;
I have nothing to say to him;
to a person who is a crude vandal,

Tasmiṁ me vacanaṁ natthi,
But it’s to you that I ought to speak.
soiled like a used nappy.

tvañcārahāmi vattave.
But it’s to you that I ought to speak.
You’re the one who deserves to be spoken to.

Anaṅgaṇassa posassa,
“For a person without blemish, Always in quest of purity,
To the man who has not a blemish

niccaṁ sucigavesino;
Always in quest of purity,
who is always seeking purity,

Vālaggamattaṁ pāpassa,
Even a mere hair’s tip of evil
even a hair-tip of evil

abbhāmattaṁva khāyatī”ti.
Appears as big as a cloud.”
seems as big as a cloud.”

“Addhā maṁ yakkha jānāsi,
“Surely, spirit, you understand me,
“Indeed, O spirit, you understand me,

atho me anukampasi;
And you have compassion for me.
and you empathize with me.

Punapi yakkha vajjāsi,
Please, O spirit, speak to me again,
Please speak to me again,

yadā passasi edisan”ti.
Whenever you see such a deed.”
whenever you see something like this.”

“Neva taṁ upajīvāma,
“We don’t live with your support,
“I’m no dependent of yours,

napi te bhatakāmhase;
Nor are we your hired servant.
nor am I your servant.

Tvameva bhikkhu jāneyya,
You, bhikkhu, should know for yourself
You yourself should know, mendicant,

yena gaccheyya suggatin”ti.
The way to a good destination.”
the way that leads to a good place.”

Atha kho so bhikkhu tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.
Then that bhikkhu, stirred by that devatā, acquired a sense of urgency.
Impelled by that deity, that mendicant was struck with a sense of urgency.

Vanavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Vivekaṁ upaṭṭhānañca,

Kassapagottena sambahulā;

Ānando anuruddho ca,

Nāgadattañca kulagharaṇī.

Vajjiputto ca vesālī,

Sajjhāyena ayoniso;

Majjhanhikālamhi pākatindriya—

Padumapupphena cuddasa bhaveti.

Vanasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.
The Linked Discourses in the Forest are completed.
The Linked Discourses in the Forest are completed.