SN 9.1 Seclusion

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

At one time one of the mendicants was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu divāvihāragato pāpake akusale vitakke vitakketi gehanissite.

Now at that time that mendicant, during their day’s meditation, was thinking bad, unskillful thoughts to do with the domestic life.

Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tassa bhikkhuno anukampikā atthakāmā taṁ bhikkhuṁ saṁvejetukāmā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

The deity haunting that forest had sympathy for that mendicant, and wanted what’s best for them. So they approached that mendicant wanting to stir them up, and addressed them in verse:

“Vivekakāmosi vanaṁ paviṭṭho,

“You entered the woods desiring seclusion,

Atha te mano niccharatī bahiddhā;

yet your mind strays to outward things.

Jano janasmiṁ vinayassu chandaṁ,

As a person, dispel the desire for people;

Tato sukhī hohisi vītarāgo.

then you’ll be happy, free of greed.

Aratiṁ pajahāsi sato,

Give up discontent; be mindful;

Bhavāsi sataṁ taṁ sārayāmase;

let us remind you to be mindful.

Pātālarajo hi duttaro,

The dusty abyss is so hard to cross;

Mā taṁ kāmarajo avāhari.

don’t let sensual dust drag you down.

Sakuṇo yathā paṁsukunthito,

Just as a bird strewn with dirt

Vidhunaṁ pātayati sitaṁ rajaṁ;

sheds that clingy dust with a shake;

Evaṁ bhikkhu padhānavā satimā,

so too, an energetic, mindful mendicant

Vidhunaṁ pātayati sitaṁ rajan”ti.

sheds that clingy dust with a shake.”

Atha kho so bhikkhu tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.

Impelled by that deity, that mendicant was struck with a sense of urgency.