A deity engages the Buddha in verse on free of strife, exploring a teaching on suffering, liberation, and the law of kamma.

SN 1.81 Free of Strife

“Kesūdha araṇā loke,
kesaṁ vusitaṁ na nassati;
Kedha icchaṁ parijānanti,
kesaṁ bhojissiyaṁ sadā.

Kiṁsu mātā pitā bhātā,
vandanti naṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ;
Kiṁsu idha jātihīnaṁ,
abhivādenti khattiyā”ti.

“Samaṇīdha araṇā loke,
Samaṇānaṁ vusitaṁ na nassati;
Samaṇā icchaṁ parijānanti,
Samaṇānaṁ bhojissiyaṁ sadā.

Samaṇaṁ mātā pitā bhātā,
vandanti naṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ;
Samaṇīdha jātihīnaṁ,
abhivādenti khattiyā”ti.

Chetvāvaggo aṭṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Chetvā rathañca cittañca,
vuṭṭhi bhītā najīrati;
Issaraṁ kāmaṁ pātheyyaṁ,
pajjoto araṇena cāti.

Devatāsaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Kesūdha araṇā loke,

“Who in the world is free of strife?

kesaṁ vusitaṁ na nassati;

Whose life is not wasted?

Kedha icchaṁ parijānanti,

Who here completely understands desire?

kesaṁ bhojissiyaṁ sadā.

Who always lives as their own master?

Kiṁsu mātā pitā bhātā,

To whom do mother, father, and brothers

vandanti naṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ;

bow when they’re established?

Kiṁsu idha jātihīnaṁ,

Who here, though low born,

abhivādenti khattiyā”ti.

is bowed to even by aristocrats?”

“Samaṇīdha araṇā loke,

“Ascetics are free of strife in the world.

Samaṇānaṁ vusitaṁ na nassati;

The life of ascetics is not wasted.

Samaṇā icchaṁ parijānanti,

Ascetics completely understand desire.

Samaṇānaṁ bhojissiyaṁ sadā.

Ascetics always live as their own master.

Samaṇaṁ mātā pitā bhātā,

Mother, father, and brothers

vandanti naṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ;

bow to ascetics when they’re established.

Samaṇīdha jātihīnaṁ,

Even though an ascetic is low born,

abhivādenti khattiyā”ti.

they’re bowed to even by aristocrats.”

Chetvāvaggo aṭṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Chetvā rathañca cittañca,

vuṭṭhi bhītā najīrati;

Issaraṁ kāmaṁ pātheyyaṁ,

pajjoto araṇena cāti.

Devatāsaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Linked Discourses on Deities are complete.

Topics & Qualities:

Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
View all discourses →
Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026