Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Varanasi, in the deer park at Isipatana.
Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bārāṇasiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Varanasi for alms.
Addasā kho bhagavā goyogapilakkhasmiṁ piṇḍāya caramāno aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ rittassādaṁ bāhirassādaṁ muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ pākatindriyaṁ.
While the Buddha was walking for alms near the cow-hitching place at the wavy leaf fig, he saw a disgruntled monk who was looking for pleasure in external things, unmindful, without situational awareness or immersion, with straying mind and undisciplined faculties.
Disvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:
The Buddha said to him,
“Mā kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, attānaṁ kaṭuviyamakāsi.
“Monk, don’t be bitter.
Taṁ vata, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī”ti.
If you’re bitter, festering with putrefaction, flies will, without a doubt, plague and infest you.”
Atha kho so bhikkhu bhagavatā iminā ovādena ovadito saṁvegamāpādi.
Hearing this advice of the Buddha, that monk was struck with a sense of urgency.
Atha kho bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto bhikkhū āmantesi:
Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, the Buddha told the mendicants what had happened. …
“Idhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bārāṇasiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.
Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, goyogapilakkhasmiṁ piṇḍāya caramāno aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ rittassādaṁ bāhirassādaṁ muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ pākatindriyaṁ.
Disvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavocaṁ:
‘Mā kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, attānaṁ kaṭuviyamakāsi.
Taṁ vata bhikkhu kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti.
Atha kho, bhikkhave, so bhikkhu mayā iminā ovādena ovadito saṁvegamāpādī”ti.
Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When he said this, one of the mendicants asked the Buddha:
“kiṁ nu kho, bhante, kaṭuviyaṁ?
“Sir, what is this ‘bitterness’?
Ko āmagandho?
What is ‘putrefaction’?
Kā makkhikā”ti?
And what are the ‘flies’?”
“Abhijjhā kho, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyaṁ;
“Desire is bitterness;
byāpādo āmagandho;
ill will is the putrefaction;
pāpakā akusalā vitakkā makkhikā.
and bad, unskillful thoughts are the flies.
Taṁ vata, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatīti.
If you’re bitter, festering with putrefaction, flies will, without a doubt, plague and infest you.
Aguttaṁ cakkhusotasmiṁ,
When your eyes and ears are unguarded,
indriyesu asaṁvutaṁ;
and you’re not restrained in your sense faculties,
Makkhikānupatissanti,
flies—those lustful thoughts—
saṅkappā rāganissitā.
will plague you.
Kaṭuviyakato bhikkhu,
A mendicant who’s bitter,
āmagandhe avassuto;
festering with putrefaction,
Ārakā hoti nibbānā,
is far from being extinguished,
vighātasseva bhāgavā.
distress is their lot.
Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,
Whether in village or wilderness,
aladdhā samathamattano;
if they don’t find serenity in themselves,
Pareti bālo dummedho,
the fool, the simpleton departs,
makkhikāhi purakkhato.
honored only by flies.
Ye ca sīlena sampannā,
But those who have ethics,
paññāyūpasameratā;
lovers of wisdom and peace,
Upasantā sukhaṁ senti,
they, being peaceful, sleep at ease,
nāsayitvāna makkhikā”ti.
since they’ve got rid of the flies.”
Chaṭṭhaṁ.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
At one time the Buddha was staying near Varanasi, in the deer park at Isipatana.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Varanasi for alms.
While the Buddha was walking for alms near the cow-hitching place at the wavy leaf fig, he saw a disgruntled monk who was looking for pleasure in external things, unmindful, without situational awareness or immersion, with straying mind and undisciplined faculties.
The Buddha said to him,
“Monk, don’t be bitter.
If you’re bitter, festering with putrefaction, flies will, without a doubt, plague and infest you.”
Hearing this advice of the Buddha, that monk was struck with a sense of urgency.
Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, the Buddha told the mendicants what had happened. …
When he said this, one of the mendicants asked the Buddha:
“Sir, what is this ‘bitterness’?
What is ‘putrefaction’?
And what are the ‘flies’?”
“Desire is bitterness;
ill will is the putrefaction;
and bad, unskillful thoughts are the flies.
If you’re bitter, festering with putrefaction, flies will, without a doubt, plague and infest you.
When your eyes and ears are unguarded,
and you’re not restrained in your sense faculties,
flies—those lustful thoughts—
will plague you.
A mendicant who’s bitter,
festering with putrefaction,
is far from being extinguished,
distress is their lot.
Whether in village or wilderness,
if they don’t find serenity in themselves,
the fool, the simpleton departs,
honored only by flies.
But those who have ethics,
lovers of wisdom and peace,
they, being peaceful, sleep at ease,
since they’ve got rid of the flies.”
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye.
Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bārāṇasiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Addasā kho bhagavā goyogapilakkhasmiṁ piṇḍāya caramāno aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ rittassādaṁ bāhirassādaṁ muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ pākatindriyaṁ.
Disvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:
“Mā kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, attānaṁ kaṭuviyamakāsi.
Taṁ vata, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī”ti.
Atha kho so bhikkhu bhagavatā iminā ovādena ovadito saṁvegamāpādi.
Atha kho bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto bhikkhū āmantesi:
“Idhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bārāṇasiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.
Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, goyogapilakkhasmiṁ piṇḍāya caramāno aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ rittassādaṁ bāhirassādaṁ muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ pākatindriyaṁ.
Disvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavocaṁ:
‘Mā kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, attānaṁ kaṭuviyamakāsi.
Taṁ vata bhikkhu kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti.
Atha kho, bhikkhave, so bhikkhu mayā iminā ovādena ovadito saṁvegamāpādī”ti.
Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“kiṁ nu kho, bhante, kaṭuviyaṁ?
Ko āmagandho?
Kā makkhikā”ti?
“Abhijjhā kho, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyaṁ;
byāpādo āmagandho;
pāpakā akusalā vitakkā makkhikā.
Taṁ vata, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatīti.
Aguttaṁ cakkhusotasmiṁ,
indriyesu asaṁvutaṁ;
Makkhikānupatissanti,
saṅkappā rāganissitā.
Kaṭuviyakato bhikkhu,
āmagandhe avassuto;
Ārakā hoti nibbānā,
vighātasseva bhāgavā.
Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,
aladdhā samathamattano;
Pareti bālo dummedho,
makkhikāhi purakkhato.
Ye ca sīlena sampannā,
paññāyūpasameratā;
Upasantā sukhaṁ senti,
nāsayitvāna makkhikā”ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.