1.1PTS 1.280Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye.At one time the Buddha was staying near Varanasi in the deer park at Isipatana.

1.2Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bārāṇasiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Varanasi for alms.1.3Addasā kho bhagavā goyogapilakkhasmiṁ piṇḍāya caramāno aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ rittassādaṁ bāhirassādaṁ muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ pākatindriyaṁ.While the Buddha was walking for alms near the cow-hitching place at the wavy leaf fig, he saw a disgruntled monk who was looking for pleasure in external things, unmindful, without situational awareness or immersion, with straying mind and undisciplined faculties.

1.4Disvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:The Buddha said to him,2.1“Mā kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, attānaṁ kaṭuviyamakāsi.“Monk, don’t be bitter.2.2Taṁ vata, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī”ti.If you’re bitter, festering with putrefaction, flies will, without a doubt, plague and infest you.”

2.3Atha kho so bhikkhu bhagavatā iminā ovādena ovadito saṁvegamāpādi.Hearing this advice of the Buddha, that monk was struck with a sense of urgency.2.4Atha kho bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto bhikkhū āmantesi:Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, the Buddha told the mendicants what had happened. …

3.1“Idhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bārāṇasiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.3.2Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, goyogapilakkhasmiṁ piṇḍāya caramāno aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ rittassādaṁ bāhirassādaṁ muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ pākatindriyaṁ.3.3Disvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavocaṁ:

4.1‘Mā kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, attānaṁ kaṭuviyamakāsi.4.2Taṁ vata bhikkhu kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti.4.3Atha kho, bhikkhave, so bhikkhu mayā iminā ovādena ovadito saṁvegamāpādī”ti.4.4Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha:

4.5“kiṁ nu kho, bhante, kaṭuviyaṁ?“Sir, what is this ‘bitterness’?4.6Ko āmagandho?What is ‘putrefaction’?4.7Kā makkhikā”ti?And what are the ‘flies’?”

5.1“Abhijjhā kho, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyaṁ;“Desire is bitterness;5.2byāpādo āmagandho;ill will is the putrefaction;5.3pāpakā akusalā vitakkā makkhikā.and bad, unskillful thoughts are the flies.5.4Taṁ vata, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatīti.If you’re bitter, festering with putrefaction, flies will, without a doubt, plague and infest you.

6.1PTS 1.281Aguttaṁ cakkhusotasmiṁ,When your eyes and ears are unguarded,6.2indriyesu asaṁvutaṁ;and you’re not restrained in your sense faculties,6.3Makkhikānupatissanti,flies—those lustful thoughts—6.4saṅkappā rāganissitā.will plague you.

7.1Kaṭuviyakato bhikkhu,A mendicant who’s bitter,7.2āmagandhe avassuto;festering with putrefaction,7.3Ārakā hoti nibbānā,is far from being extinguished,7.4vighātasseva bhāgavā.distress is their lot.

8.1Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,Whether in village or wilderness,8.2aladdhā samathamattano;if they don’t find serenity in themselves,8.3Pareti bālo dummedho,the fool, the simpleton departs,8.4makkhikāhi purakkhato.honored only by flies.

9.1Ye ca sīlena sampannā,But those who have ethics,9.2paññāyūpasameratā;lovers of wisdom and peace,9.3Upasantā sukhaṁ senti,they, being peaceful, sleep at ease,9.4nāsayitvāna makkhikā”ti.since they’ve got rid of the flies.”

9.5Chaṭṭhaṁ.