A deity engages the Buddha in verse on with pajjunna’s daughter (2nd), exploring a teaching on suffering, liberation, and the law of kamma.

SN 1.40 With Pajjunna’s Daughter (2nd)

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

Atha kho cūḷakokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ mahāvanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho devatā cūḷakokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“Idhāgamā vijjupabhāsavaṇṇā,
Kokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā;
Buddhañca dhammañca namassamānā,
Gāthācimā atthavatī abhāsi.

Bahunāpi kho taṁ vibhajeyyaṁ,
Pariyāyena tādiso dhammo;
Saṅkhittamatthaṁ lapayissāmi,
Yāvatā me manasā pariyattaṁ.

Pāpaṁ na kayirā vacasā manasā,
Kāyena kiñcana sabbaloke;
Kāme pahāya satimā sampajāno,
Dukkhaṁ na sevetha anatthasaṁhitan”ti.

Satullapakāyikavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sabbhimaccharinā sādhu,
na santujjhānasaññino;
Saddhā samayo sakalikaṁ,
ubho pajjunnadhītaroti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Atha kho cūḷakokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ mahāvanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Then, late at night, the glorious Kokanadā the Younger, Pajjunna’s daughter, lighting up the entire Great Wood, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho devatā cūḷakokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

“Idhāgamā vijjupabhāsavaṇṇā,

“She came here, beautiful as a flash of lightning,

Kokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā;

Kokanadā, Pajjunna’s daughter.

Buddhañca dhammañca namassamānā,

Revering the Buddha and the teaching,

Gāthācimā atthavatī abhāsi.

she spoke these verses full of meaning.

Bahunāpi kho taṁ vibhajeyyaṁ,

The teaching is such that

Pariyāyena tādiso dhammo;

I could analyze it in many different ways.

Saṅkhittamatthaṁ lapayissāmi,

However, I will state the meaning in brief

Yāvatā me manasā pariyattaṁ.

as far as I have learned it by heart.

Pāpaṁ na kayirā vacasā manasā,

You should never do anything bad

Kāyena kiñcana sabbaloke;

by speech or mind or body in all the world.

Kāme pahāya satimā sampajāno,

Having given up sensual pleasures, mindful and aware,

Dukkhaṁ na sevetha anatthasaṁhitan”ti.

you shouldn’t keep doing what’s painful and pointless.”

Satullapakāyikavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sabbhimaccharinā sādhu,

na santujjhānasaññino;

Saddhā samayo sakalikaṁ,

ubho pajjunnadhītaroti.

Qualities:

Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: craving for sensuality, passion for sensual pleasures, lust, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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Last updated on July 27, 2026