Wakeful

Translated from the Pali

[1][pts] I hear tell:

Once upon a time The Lucky Man Sāvatthī-town revisiting.

There then he addressed the beggars:

'Beggars!'

'Bhante!,' they responded.

And the Bhagava said:

Beggars! These five sleep little and are highly alert.

What five?

A woman yearning for a man
sleeps little and is highly alert.

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A man yearing for a woman
sleeps little and is highly alert.

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A thief on the prowl for loot
sleeps little and is highly alert.

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A king bent on conquest
sleeps little and is highly alert.

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A Beggar determined to attain freedom from the bonds
sleeps little and is highly alert.

Indeed, Beggars, these five sleep little and are highly alert.