Saɱyutta Nikāya
I. Sagātha Vagga
9. Vana-Saɱyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
I. Kindred Sayings with Verses
9. The Forest Suttas
Sutta 8
Kulagharaṇī (or Ogāḷha) Suttaɱ
The Housewife, or Engrossed
Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by Sūriyagoḍa Sumangala Thera
Copyright The Pali Text Society. Public Domain.
[8.1] THUS HAVE I HEARD: —
A certain brother was once staying among the Kosalese
in a certain forest-tract.
Now at that time
this brother was living exceedingly taken up[1]
by a certain family.
And a deva who haunted that forest,
moved by compassion,
desiring his welfare,
and wishing to agitate him,
assumed the shape of the housewife[2] of that family,
and went to the brother,
addressing him in the verse: —
"Along the rivers, resting by the gates,[3]
In mote-halls and along the chariot-roads
The folk foregather and discussions rise: —
Of me it is, and thee — now why is this?"[4]
[257] [The Brother:—]
"Ay, there is busy to-and-fro of words,[5]
And a recluse must bear it patiently.
Not thereby should he feel annoyed, for not
Thereby can come defilement or disgrace.[6]
Whoso at sounds is flustered and dismayed,
Like any antelope within the woods,
Men call him giddy-pated, feather-brained.[7]
The practice he may plan he'll ne'er complete."
[1] Adhi(ajjh)-ogālhapatto. B. does not paraphrase, but narrates in detail how the family, charmed by the brother, devoted themselves to him and made him their pensioner.
[2] Kula-gharaṇī. B. does not comment on this uncommon term.
[3] Saṇṭhāne, described as 'a resting-place (vissamānaṭṭhane) near the city-gate, when market-wares had been brought down.'
[4] Kim antaran ti: 'what's inside?' See Childers, who would have found B.'s comment: Kiɱ kāraṇā? confirm the definition (= hetu) of the Abhidhānappadīpikasūcī.
[5] Paccūhā.
[6] 'That arises only through evil deeds done by himself.' Comy
[7] Two renderings for lahu-citto.
