The Buddha admonishes his cousin Nanda for dressing in pressed robes, applying eyeshadow, and carrying a glazed bowl, urging him instead toward wilderness life, rag robes, almsfood, and freedom from concern for sensual pleasures.

SN 21.8 With Nanda

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

Atha kho āyasmā nando bhagavato mātucchāputto ākoṭitapaccākoṭitāni cīvarāni pārupitvā akkhīni añjetvā acchaṁ pattaṁ gahetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ nandaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“na kho te taṁ, nanda, patirūpaṁ kulaputtassa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitassa, yaṁ tvaṁ ākoṭitapaccākoṭitāni cīvarāni pārupeyyāsi, akkhīni ca añjeyyāsi, acchañca pattaṁ dhāreyyāsi. Etaṁ kho te, nanda, patirūpaṁ kulaputtassa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitassa, yaṁ tvaṁ āraññiko ca assasi, piṇḍapātiko ca paṁsukūliko ca kāmesu ca anapekkho vihareyyāsī”ti.

Idamavoca bhagavā …pe… satthā:

“Kadāhaṁ nandaṁ passeyyaṁ,
āraññaṁ paṁsukūlikaṁ;
Aññātuñchena yāpentaṁ,
kāmesu anapekkhinan”ti.

Atha kho āyasmā nando aparena samayena āraññiko ca piṇḍapātiko ca paṁsukūliko ca kāmesu ca anapekkho vihāsīti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho āyasmā nando bhagavato mātucchāputto ākoṭitapaccākoṭitāni cīvarāni pārupitvā akkhīni añjetvā acchaṁ pattaṁ gahetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ nandaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then Venerable Nanda—the Buddha’s cousin on his mother’s side—dressed in nicely pressed and ironed robes, applied eyeshadow, and took a glazed bowl. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“na kho te taṁ, nanda, patirūpaṁ kulaputtassa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitassa, yaṁ tvaṁ ākoṭitapaccākoṭitāni cīvarāni pārupeyyāsi, akkhīni ca añjeyyāsi, acchañca pattaṁ dhāreyyāsi.

“Nanda, as a gentleman who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, it’s not appropriate for you to dress in nicely pressed and ironed robes, apply eyeshadow, and carry a glazed bowl.

Etaṁ kho te, nanda, patirūpaṁ kulaputtassa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitassa, yaṁ tvaṁ āraññiko ca assasi, piṇḍapātiko ca paṁsukūliko ca kāmesu ca anapekkho vihareyyāsī”ti.

It’s appropriate for you to stay in the wilderness, eat only almsfood, wear rag robes, and live without concern for sensual pleasures.”

Idamavoca bhagavā …pe…

That is what the Buddha said.

satthā:

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Kadāhaṁ nandaṁ passeyyaṁ,

“When will I see Nanda

āraññaṁ paṁsukūlikaṁ;

in the wilderness, wearing rag robes,

Aññātuñchena yāpentaṁ,

feeding on scraps offered by strangers,

kāmesu anapekkhinan”ti.

unconcerned for sensual pleasures?”

Atha kho āyasmā nando aparena samayena āraññiko ca piṇḍapātiko ca paṁsukūliko ca kāmesu ca anapekkho vihāsīti.

Then some time later Venerable Nanda stayed in the wilderness, ate only almsfood, wore rag robes, and lived without concern for sensual pleasures.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Compassion

Compassion

A mental quality of wise empathy in response to suffering, which counters qualities of harm or cruelty.

Also known as: benevolence, concern, sympathy, kindness towards those who are suffering
Pāli: karuṇā, anukampa
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
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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