1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

1.2Tena kho pana samayena sukkā bhikkhunī mahatiyā parisāya parivutā dhammaṁ deseti.Now, at that time the nun Sukkā was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly.1.3Atha kho sukkāya bhikkhuniyā abhippasanno yakkho rājagahe rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:Then a native spirit was so devoted to Sukkā that he went from street to street and from square to square, and on that occasion recited these verses:

2.1“Kiṁ me katā rājagahe manussā,“What’s up with these people in Rājagaha?2.2Madhupītāva seyare;They sleep like they’ve been drinking mead!2.3Ye sukkaṁ na payirupāsanti,They don’t attend on Sukkā2.4Desentiṁ amataṁ padaṁ.as she’s teaching the state free of death.¹

3.1Tañca pana appaṭivānīyaṁ,But the wise—3.2Asecanakamojavaṁ;it’s as if they drink it up,3.3Pivanti maññe sappaññā,so irresistible, delectable, and nutritious,3.4Valāhakamiva panthagū”ti.like travelers enjoying a cool cloud.”