1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.1.3Tena kho pana samayena sambahulānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ karerimaṇḍalamāḷe sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi:Now at that time, after the meal, on return from almsround, several mendicants sat together in the pavilion by the kareri tree and this discussion came up among them:

2.1“Piṇḍapātiko, āvuso, bhikkhu piṇḍāya caranto labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike sotena sadde sotuṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike ghānena gandhe ghāyituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike jivhāya rase sāyituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phusituṁ.“Reverends, when a mendicant who eats only almsfood is wandering for alms, from time to time they get to see pleasing sights, hear pleasing sounds, smell pleasing odors, taste pleasing flavors, and encounter pleasing touches.2.2Piṇḍapātiko, āvuso, bhikkhu sakkato garukato mānito pūjito apacito piṇḍāya carati.They wander for alms being honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed.2.3Handāvuso, mayampi piṇḍapātikā homa.Come, we too should eat only almsfood.2.4Mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ, mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike sotena sadde sotuṁ, mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike ghānena gandhe ghāyituṁ, mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike jivhāya rase sāyituṁ, mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phusituṁ;From time to time we too will get to see pleasing sights, hear pleasing sounds, smell pleasing odors, taste pleasing flavors, and encounter pleasing touches.2.5mayampi sakkatā garukatā mānitā pūjitā apacitā piṇḍāya carissāmā”ti.We too shall wander for alms being honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed.”2.6Ayañcarahi tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ antarākathā hoti vippakatā.At that point the conversation among those mendicants was left unfinished.

3.1Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena karerimaṇḍalamāḷo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the pavilion by the kareri tree, where he sat down on the seat spread out3.2Nisajja kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:and addressed the mendicants:3.3“kāya nuttha, bhikkhave, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā, kā ca pana vo antarākathā vippakatā”ti?“Mendicants, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?”

4.1“Idha, bhante, amhākaṁ pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ karerimaṇḍalamāḷe sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi:So the mendicants told him what they had been talking about. The Buddha said,

5.1‘Piṇḍapātiko, āvuso, bhikkhu piṇḍāya caranto labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike sotena sadde sotuṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike ghānena gandhe ghāyituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike jivhāya rase sāyituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phusituṁ.5.2Piṇḍapātiko, āvuso, bhikkhu sakkato garukato mānito pūjito apacito piṇḍāya carati.5.3Handāvuso, mayampi piṇḍapātikā homa.5.4Mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ …pe…5.5kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phusituṁ.5.6Mayampi sakkatā garukatā mānitā pūjitā apacitā piṇḍāya carissāmā’ti.5.7Ayaṁ kho no, bhante, antarākathā vippakatā, atha bhagavā anuppatto”ti.

6.1“Na khvetaṁ, bhikkhave, tumhākaṁ patirūpaṁ kulaputtānaṁ saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitānaṁ yaṁ tumhe evarūpiṁ kathaṁ katheyyātha.∥“Mendicants, it is not appropriate for you gentlemen who have gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness to talk about such things.6.2Sannipatitānaṁ vo, bhikkhave, dvayaṁ karaṇīyaṁ—When you’re sitting together you should do one of two things:6.3dhammī vā kathā ariyo vā tuṇhībhāvo”ti.discuss the teachings or keep noble silence.”

7.1Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

8.1“Piṇḍapātikassa bhikkhuno,“A mendicant who relies on alms,8.2Attabharassa anaññaposino;self-supported, providing for no other;8.3Devā pihayanti tādino,the unaffected one is envied by even the gods,8.4No ce saddasilokanissito”ti.but not if they’re after popularity and reputation.”

8.5Aṭṭhamaṁ.