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Nandavaggo

3-8: Piṇḍapātikasuttaṁ (28)
The Discourse about the Alms-Gatherer

Evaṁ me sutaṁ:
Thus I heard:

ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati,
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,

Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
in Jeta's Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ,
Then at that time, amongst many monks,

pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ,
after returning from the alms-round after the meal,

Karerimaṇḍalamāle sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ,
assembling together, and sitting in the Kareri Round Hall,

ayam-antarākathā udapādi:
this conversation arose:

“Piṇḍapātiko āvuso bhikkhu piṇḍāya caranto
“An alms-gathering monk, venerable friends, while walking for alms

labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ
gets the opportunity from time to time to see appealing forms with the eye;

labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike sotena sadde sotuṁ
gets the opportunity from time to time to hear appealing sounds with the ear;

labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike ghānena gandhe ghāyituṁ
gets the opportunity from time to time to smell appealing smells with the nose;

labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike jivhāya rase sāyituṁ
gets the opportunity from time to time to taste appealing flavours with the tongue;

labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phūsituṁ.
gets the opportunity from time to time to touch appealing tangibles with the body.

Piṇḍapātiko āvuso bhikkhu,
An alms-gathering monk, venerable friends,

sakkato garukato mānito pūjito apacito piṇḍāya carati.
walking for alms is venerated, respected, revered, honoured, and esteemed.

Handa āvuso mayam-pi piṇḍapātikā homa,
Now, venerable friends, we too should be alms-gatherers,

mayam-pi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ
and we also will get the opportunity from time to time to see appealing forms with the eye;

mayam-pi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike sotena sadde sotuṁ
and we also will get the opportunity from time to time to hear appealing sounds with the ear;

mayam-pi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpiko ghānena gandhe ghāyituṁ
and we also will get the opportunity from time to time to smell appealing smells with the nose;

mayam-pi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike jivhāya rase sāyituṁ
and we also will get the opportunity from time to time to taste appealing flavours with the tongue;

mayam-pi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phusituṁ
and we also will get the opportunity from time to time to touch appealing tangibles with the body;

mayam-pi sakkatā garukatā mānitā pūjitā apacitā piṇḍāya carissāmā” ti.
and we also will walk for alms being venerated, respected, revered, honoured, and esteemed.”

Ayañ-carahi tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ antarākathā hoti vippakatā.
Now this conversation that arose amongst those monks was left unfinished.

Atha kho Bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito,
Then the Gracious One, having risen from seclusion in the evening time,

yena Karerimaṇḍalamālo tenupasaṅkami,
went to the Kareri Round Hall,

upasaṅkamitvā, paññatte āsane nisīdi.
and after going, he sat down on the prepared seat.

Nisajja kho Bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
Having sat down the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):

“Kāyanuttha bhikkhave etarahi kathāya sannipatitā,
“What is the talk about, monks, amongst those who have assembled at present,

kā ca pana vo antarākathā vippakatā?” ti.
and what is the conversation that you left unfinished?”

“Idha bhante amhākaṁ pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ,
“Here, reverend Sir, after returning from the alms-round after the meal,

Karerimaṇḍalamāle sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ,
assembling together, and sitting in the Kareri Round Hall,

ayam-antarākathā udapādi:
this conversation arose:

‘Piṇḍapātiko āvuso bhikkhu piṇḍāya caranto
‘An alms-gathering monk, venerable friends, while walking for alms

labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ
gets the opportunity from time to time to see appealing forms with the eye;

labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike sotena sadde sotuṁ
gets the opportunity from time to time to hear appealing sounds with the ear;

labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike ghānena gandhe ghāyituṁ
gets the opportunity from time to time to smell appealing smells with the nose;

labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike jivhāya rase sāyituṁ
gets the opportunity from time to time to taste appealing flavours with the tongue;

labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phūsituṁ.
gets the opportunity from time to time to touch appealing tangibles with the body.

Piṇḍapātiko āvuso bhikkhu,
An alms-gathering monk, venerable friends,

sakkato garukato mānito pūjito apacito piṇḍāya carati.
walking for alms is venerated, respected, revered, honoured, and esteemed.

Handa āvuso mayam-pi piṇḍapātikā homa,
Now, venerable friends, we too should be alms-gatherers,

mayam-pi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ
and we also will get the opportunity from time to time to see appealing forms with the eye;

mayam-pi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike sotena sadde sotuṁ
and we also will get the opportunity from time to time to hear appealing sounds with the ear;

mayam-pi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpiko ghānena gandhe ghāyituṁ
and we also will get the opportunity from time to time to smell appealing smells with the nose;

mayam-pi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike jivhāya rase sāyituṁ
and we also will get the opportunity from time to time to taste appealing flavours with the tongue;

mayam-pi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phusituṁ
and we also will get the opportunity from time to time to touch appealing tangibles with the body;

mayam-pi sakkatā garukatā mānitā pūjitā apacitā piṇḍāya carissāmā’ ti.
and walking for alms we also will be venerated, respected, revered, honoured, and esteemed.’

Ayaṁ kho no bhante antarākathā hoti vippakatā,
This is the conversation, reverend Sir, that was left unfinished,

atha kho Bhagavā anuppatto” ti.
then the Gracious One arrived.”

“Nakhvetaṁ bhikkhave tumhākaṁ patirūpaṁ
“This is certainly not suitable, monks, for you

kulaputtānaṁ saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitānaṁ,
sons of good family who through faith have gone forth from the home to homelessness,

yaṁ tumhe evarūpiṁ kathaṁ katheyyātha.
that you should talk such talk.

Sannipatitānaṁ vo bhikkhave dvayaṁ karaṇīyaṁ:
When you have assembled together, monks, there are two things that you ought to do:

Dhammī vā kathā, ariyo vā tuṇhībhāvo” ti.
talk about the Dhamma, or maintain noble silence.”

Atha kho Bhagavā, etam-atthaṁ viditvā,
Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it,

tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

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