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Udāna 4: Meghiyavaggo
The Chapter (including the Discourse) about Meghiya
2: The Discourse about Agitation
Thus I heard:
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Kusinārā, at Upavattana, in the Mallas' Sāl Wood.
Then at that time many monks were dwelling in a little forest hut not far from the Gracious One, agitated, arrogant, fickle, garrulous, of loose speech, unmindful, not fully understanding, uncomposed, with minds very unsteady, and with faculties uncontrolled.
The Gracious One saw those many monks dwelling in a little forest hut not far away, agitated, arrogant, fickle, garrulous, of loose speech, unmindful, not fully understanding, uncomposed, with minds very unsteady, and with faculties uncontrolled. An example of how adjectives are piled up rhetorically to press home the point. 01
Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:
“Through unprotected body, and through attainment of wrong view,
Through being overcome by sloth and torpor one goes under the power of Māra.
Therefore one should be of protected mind, one whose resort is right thought,
Devoted to right view, having come to know rise and fall. This pādayuga is missing from BJT and also SHB Udānapāḷi. It is found in the Commentary though, and in the Burmese and European editions. It also occurs in the Udānavarga parallel (31.54): Samyagdṛṣṭipuraskāro jñātvā caivodayavyayam.02
The monk who overcomes sloth and torpor will give up all bad destinies.”
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