A forest deity or the Buddha teaches on with anuruddha, encouraging mendicants in seclusion to guard the mind against sensuality and negligence.

SN 9.6 With Anuruddha

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā anuruddho kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

Atha kho aññatarā tāvatiṁsakāyikā devatā jālinī nāma āyasmato anuruddhassa purāṇadutiyikā yenāyasmā anuruddho tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ anuruddhaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Tattha cittaṁ paṇidhehi,
yattha te vusitaṁ pure;
Tāvatiṁsesu devesu,
sabbakāmasamiddhisu;
Purakkhato parivuto,
devakaññāhi sobhasī”ti.

“Duggatā devakaññāyo,
sakkāyasmiṁ patiṭṭhitā;
Te cāpi duggatā sattā,
devakaññāhi patthitā”ti.

“Na te sukhaṁ pajānanti,
ye na passanti nandanaṁ;
Āvāsaṁ naradevānaṁ,
tidasānaṁ yasassinan”ti.

“Na tvaṁ bāle vijānāsi,
yathā arahataṁ vaco;
Aniccā sabbasaṅkhārā,
uppādavayadhammino;
Uppajjitvā nirujjhanti,
tesaṁ vūpasamo sukho.

Natthi dāni punāvāso,
devakāyasmi jālini;
Vikkhīṇo jātisaṁsāro,
natthi dāni punabbhavo”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā anuruddho kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

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

Atha kho aññatarā tāvatiṁsakāyikā devatā jālinī nāma āyasmato anuruddhassa purāṇadutiyikā yenāyasmā anuruddho tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ anuruddhaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then a certain deity of the company of the thirty-three named Penelope had been Anuruddha’s partner in a former life. She went up to Anuruddha, and recited these verses:

“Tattha cittaṁ paṇidhehi,

“Set your heart there,

yattha te vusitaṁ pure;

where you used to live:

Tāvatiṁsesu devesu,

among the gods of the thirty-three,

sabbakāmasamiddhisu;

whose every desire is granted!

Purakkhato parivuto,

At the fore of a retinue

devakaññāhi sobhasī”ti.

of divine maidens, you’ll shine!”

“Duggatā devakaññāyo,

“Divine maidens are in a sorry state,

sakkāyasmiṁ patiṭṭhitā;

stuck in substantial reality.

Te cāpi duggatā sattā,

And those beings too are in a sorry state,

devakaññāhi patthitā”ti.

who are attached to divine maidens.”

“Na te sukhaṁ pajānanti,

“They don’t know pleasure

ye na passanti nandanaṁ;

who don’t see the Garden of Delight!

Āvāsaṁ naradevānaṁ,

It’s the abode of lordly gods,

tidasānaṁ yasassinan”ti.

the glorious host of Thirty!”

“Na tvaṁ bāle vijānāsi,

“Fool, don’t you understand

yathā arahataṁ vaco;

the saying of the perfected ones:

Aniccā sabbasaṅkhārā,

all conditions are impermanent,

uppādavayadhammino;

their nature is to rise and fall;

Uppajjitvā nirujjhanti,

having arisen, they cease;

tesaṁ vūpasamo sukho.

their settling is such bliss.

Natthi dāni punāvāso,

O Penelope, weaver of the web—

devakāyasmi jālini;

there are no more abodes for me in the host of gods.

Vikkhīṇo jātisaṁsāro,

Transmigration through births is finished,

natthi dāni punabbhavo”ti.

now there’ll be no more future lives.”

Topics & Qualities:

Delight

Delight

A mental quality of relishing and taking pleasure in what is experienced—especially in sensuality or the prospect of continued becoming. When it fastens onto gratification, it nourishes craving and keeps the mind circling around what it wants to experience again.

Also known as: relishing, enjoyment, taking pleasure
Pāli: nandi, ārāmatā
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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
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Immaturity

Immaturity

A childish lack of discernment that fails to see the results of actions clearly. It delights in surface pleasure and ignores consequence. Immaturity leads to poor choices and association with unwise companions.

Also known as: lacking in discernment, lacking in good sense, child-like in understanding, lack of wisdom, lack of experience, foolishness
Pāli: bāla
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Last updated on July 27, 2026