SN 8.1 Renounced

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā vaṅgīso āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye āyasmatā nigrodhakappena upajjhāyena saddhiṁ.

At one time Venerable Vaṅgīsa was staying near Āḷavī, at Āḷavī’s premier shrine, together with his mentor, Venerable Nigrodhakappa.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā vaṅgīso navako hoti acirapabbajito ohiyyako vihārapālo.

Now at that time Vaṅgīsa was junior, recently gone forth. He had been left behind to look after the dwelling.

Atha kho sambahulā itthiyo samalaṅkaritvā yena aggāḷavako ārāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu vihārapekkhikāyo.

Then several women dressed in all their finery went to the monastery at Āḷavī’s premier shrine in order to inspect the dwelling.

Atha kho āyasmato vaṅgīsassa tā itthiyo disvā anabhirati uppajjati, rāgo cittaṁ anuddhaṁseti.

When Vaṅgīsa saw them he became dissatisfied, with lust infecting his mind.

Atha kho āyasmato vaṅgīsassa etadahosi:

Then he thought,

“alābhā vata me, na vata me lābhā; dulladdhaṁ vata me, na vata me suladdhaṁ;

“It’s my loss, my misfortune,

yassa me anabhirati uppannā, rāgo cittaṁ anuddhaṁseti, taṁ kutettha labbhā, yaṁ me paro anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādeyya.

that I’ve become dissatisfied, with lust infecting my mind. How is it possible for someone else to dispel my discontent and give rise to satisfaction?

Yannūnāhaṁ attanāva attano anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādeyyan”ti.

Why don’t I do it myself?”

Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso attanāva attano anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādetvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

Then, on the occasion of dispelling his own discontent and giving rise to satisfaction, he recited these verses:

“Nikkhantaṁ vata maṁ santaṁ,

“Now that I’ve renounced

agārasmānagāriyaṁ;

the home life for homelessness

Vitakkā upadhāvanti,

I’m overrun

pagabbhā kaṇhato ime.

by the rude thoughts of the Dark One.

Uggaputtā mahissāsā,

Even if a thousand warrior chiefs and great archers,

sikkhitā daḷhadhammino;

well trained, with strong bows,

Samantā parikireyyuṁ,

were to completely surround me;

sahassaṁ apalāyinaṁ.

I would never flee.

Sacepi etato bhiyyo,

And even if women come,

āgamissanti itthiyo;

many more than that,

Neva maṁ byādhayissanti,

they won’t bother me,

dhamme samhi patiṭṭhitaṁ.

for I stand firm in the teaching.

Sakkhī hi me sutaṁ etaṁ,

I heard with my own ears

buddhassādiccabandhuno;

from the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun,

Nibbānagamanaṁ maggaṁ,

about the path going to extinguishment;

tattha me nirato mano.

that’s what delights my mind.

Evañce maṁ viharantaṁ,

Wicked One, if you come near me

pāpima upagacchasi;

as I meditate like this,

Tathā maccu karissāmi,

I’ll make sure that you, Death,

na me maggampi dakkhasī”ti.

won’t even see the path I take.”