A forest deity approaches a mendicant in verse on undisciplined faculties, encouraging seclusion, mindfulness, and freedom from sensual desire.

SN 9.13 Undisciplined Faculties

Ekaṁ samayaṁ sambahulā bhikkhū kosalesu viharanti aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe uddhatā unnaḷā capalā mukharā vikiṇṇavācā muṭṭhassatino asampajānā asamāhitā vibbhantacittā pākatindriyā.

Atha kho tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ anukampikā atthakāmā te bhikkhū saṁvejetukāmā yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te bhikkhū gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

“Sukhajīvino pure āsuṁ,
bhikkhū gotamasāvakā;
Anicchā piṇḍamesanā,
anicchā sayanāsanaṁ;
Loke aniccataṁ ñatvā,
dukkhassantaṁ akaṁsu te.

Dupposaṁ katvā attānaṁ,
gāme gāmaṇikā viya;
Bhutvā bhutvā nipajjanti,
parāgāresu mucchitā.

Saṅghassa añjaliṁ katvā,
idhekacce vadāmahaṁ;
Apaviddhā anāthā te,
yathā petā tatheva te.

Ye kho pamattā viharanti,
te me sandhāya bhāsitaṁ;
Ye appamattā viharanti,
namo tesaṁ karomahan”ti.

Atha kho te bhikkhū tāya devatāya saṁvejitā saṁvegamāpādunti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ sambahulā bhikkhū kosalesu viharanti aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe uddhatā unnaḷā capalā mukharā vikiṇṇavācā muṭṭhassatino asampajānā asamāhitā vibbhantacittā pākatindriyā.

At one time several mendicants were staying in the Kosalan lands in a certain forest grove. They were restless, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, loose-tongued, unmindful, lacking situational awareness and immersion, with straying minds and undisciplined faculties.

Atha kho tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ anukampikā atthakāmā te bhikkhū saṁvejetukāmā yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te bhikkhū gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

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

“Sukhajīvino pure āsuṁ,

“The mendicants used to live happily,

bhikkhū gotamasāvakā;

as disciples of Gotama.

Anicchā piṇḍamesanā,

Desireless they sought alms;

anicchā sayanāsanaṁ;

desireless they used their lodgings.

Loke aniccataṁ ñatvā,

Knowing that the world was impermanent

dukkhassantaṁ akaṁsu te.

they made an end of suffering.

Dupposaṁ katvā attānaṁ,

But now they’ve made themselves hard to look after,

gāme gāmaṇikā viya;

like chiefs in a village.

Bhutvā bhutvā nipajjanti,

They eat and eat and then lie down,

parāgāresu mucchitā.

unconscious in the homes of others.

Saṅghassa añjaliṁ katvā,

Having raised my cupped palms to the Saṅgha,

idhekacce vadāmahaṁ;

I speak here only about certain people.

Apaviddhā anāthā te,

They’re dregs, with no protector,

yathā petā tatheva te.

just like those who have passed away.

Ye kho pamattā viharanti,

I’m speaking about

te me sandhāya bhāsitaṁ;

those who live negligently.

Ye appamattā viharanti,

To those who live diligently

namo tesaṁ karomahan”ti.

I pay homage.”

Atha kho te bhikkhū tāya devatāya saṁvejitā saṁvegamāpādunti.

Impelled by that deity, those mendicants were struck with a sense of urgency.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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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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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
View all discourses →
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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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026