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SN 2.16PTS (1st ed) SN 1.531 min read

With Vāsudatta

Vāsudattasutta

The deity Vasudatta says that a mendicant should live like their hair is on fire so as to give up lust. The Buddha changes his verse to emphasize giving up attachment to self.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.16Linked Discourses 2.16
  • 0.22. Anāthapiṇḍikavagga2. With Anāthapiṇḍika

0.3VāsudattasuttaWith Vāsudatta

1.1Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho vāsudatto devaputto bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Standing to one side, the godling Vāsudatta spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:1

2.1“Sattiyā viya omaṭṭho,“Like they’re struck by a sword,2.2ḍayhamānova matthake;like their head was on fire,2.3Kāmarāgappahānāya,a mendicant should wander mindful,2.4sato bhikkhu paribbaje”ti.to give up sensual desire.”

3.1“Sattiyā viya omaṭṭho,“Like they’re struck by a sword,3.2ḍayhamānova matthake;like their head was on fire,3.3Sakkāyadiṭṭhippahānāya,a mendicant should wander mindful,3.4sato bhikkhu paribbaje”ti.to give up substantialist view.”

Translator’s notes

  1. Vāsudatta (“son of Vasudatta”) is otherwise unknown, but Vāsu and Vāsudeva are both names of Vishnu.

    ↩ sn2.16:1.1