• Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.25 Linked Discourses 2.25
  • 3. Nānātitthiyavagga 3. Various Sectarians

Jantusutta With Jantu

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ sambahulā bhikkhū, kosalesu viharanti himavantapasse araññakuṭikāya uddhatā unnaḷā capalā mukharā vikiṇṇavācā muṭṭhassatino asampajānā asamāhitā vibbhantacittā pākatindriyā. At one time several mendicants were staying in the Kosalan lands, in a wilderness hut on the slopes of the Himalayas. They were restless, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, loose-tongued, unmindful, lacking situational awareness and immersion, with straying minds and undisciplined faculties.

Atha kho jantu devaputto tadahuposathe pannarase yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te bhikkhū gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi: Then on the fifteenth day sabbath the godling Jantu went up to those mendicants and addressed them in verse:

“Sukhajīvino pure āsuṁ, “The mendicants used to live happily, bhikkhū gotamasāvakā; as disciples of Gotama. Anicchā piṇḍamesanā, Desireless they sought alms; anicchā sayanāsanaṁ; desireless they used their lodgings. Loke aniccataṁ ñatvā, Knowing that the world was impermanent dukkhassantaṁ akaṁsu te. they made an end of suffering.

Dupposaṁ katvā attānaṁ, But now they’ve made themselves hard to look after, gāme gāmaṇikā viya; like chiefs in a village. Bhutvā bhutvā nipajjanti, They eat and eat and then lie down, parāgāresu mucchitā. passed out in the homes of others.

Saṅghassa añjaliṁ katvā, Having raised my joined palms to the Saṅgha, idhekacce vadāmahaṁ; I speak here only about certain people. Apaviddhā anāthā te, They’re dregs, with no protector, yathā petā tatheva te. just like those who have passed away.

Ye kho pamattā viharanti, I’m speaking about te me sandhāya bhāsitaṁ; those who live negligently. Ye appamattā viharanti, To those who live diligently namo tesaṁ karomahan”ti. I pay homage.”

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato