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

SN 9.9 A Vajji

Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro vajjiputtako bhikkhu vesāliyaṁ viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

Tena kho pana samayena vesāliyaṁ vajjiputtako sabbaratticāro hoti. Atha kho so bhikkhu vesāliyā tūriyatāḷitavāditanigghosasaddaṁ sutvā paridevamāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Ekakā mayaṁ araññe viharāma,
Apaviddhaṁva vanasmiṁ dārukaṁ;
Etādisikāya rattiyā,
Ko su nāmamhehi pāpiyo”ti.

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

“Ekakova tvaṁ araññe viharasi,
Apaviddhaṁva vanasmiṁ dārukaṁ;
Tassa te bahukā pihayanti,
Nerayikā viya saggagāminan”ti.

Atha kho so bhikkhu tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro vajjiputtako bhikkhu vesāliyaṁ viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

At one time a certain Vajjian mendicant was staying near Vesālī in a certain forest grove.

Tena kho pana samayena vesāliyaṁ vajjiputtako sabbaratticāro hoti.

Now at that time the Vajjis were holding an all-night event in Vesālī.

Atha kho so bhikkhu vesāliyā tūriyatāḷitavāditanigghosasaddaṁ sutvā paridevamāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then that mendicant, complaining at the noise of musical instruments being beaten and played, on that occasion spoke this verse:

“Ekakā mayaṁ araññe viharāma,

“We dwell alone in the wilderness,

Apaviddhaṁva vanasmiṁ dārukaṁ;

like a log dumped in the forest.

Etādisikāya rattiyā,

On a night like this,

Ko su nāmamhehi pāpiyo”ti.

who’s worse off than me?”

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

“Ekakova tvaṁ araññe viharasi,

“You dwell alone in the wilderness,

Apaviddhaṁva vanasmiṁ dārukaṁ;

like a log dumped in the forest.

Tassa te bahukā pihayanti,

Lots of people are jealous of you,

Nerayikā viya saggagāminan”ti.

like beings in hell of those going to heaven.”

Atha kho so bhikkhu tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.

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

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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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
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Last updated on July 27, 2026