Saɱyutta Nikāya
I. Sagātha Vagga
10. Yakkha-Saɱyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
I. Kindred Sayings with Verses
10. The Yakkha Suttas
Sutta 9
Sukkā Suttaɱ (1)
Sukkā (1)[1]
Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by Sūriyagoḍa Sumangala Thera
Copyright The Pali Text Society. Public Domain.
[9.1] THUS HAVE I HEARD: —
The Exalted One was once staying near Rājagaha,
in the Bamboo Grove,
at the Squirrels' Feeding-ground.
Now on that occasion Sukkā, the Bhikkhunī,
was teaching [274] the Norm,
surrounded by a great congregation.
And a yakkha,[2]
enthusiastic about her,
went into Rājagaha,
going from chariot-road to chariot-road,
from crossways to cross-ways,[3]
and in that hour uttered these verses:
"What have ye, men of Rājagaha, done,[4]
That here ye lie[5] as though bemused with wine,
Nor wait upon Sukka while she doth teach
The doctrine of the Bourne Ambrosial—
That source from whence there is no turning back,[6]
That elixir that no infusion needs.[7]
The wise methinks were fain to quaff [that cup],
As wayfarer [the droppings of] the cloud."
[1] Cf Pss. of the Sisters, XXXIV; American Lectures, p. 75.
[2] So called also in the Apadāna account, but referred to in the Therīgāthā Comy. as a devatā of the tree, the tree being at the end of the Therī's 'walking-ground,' or open cloisters. As the Pali is yakkho, evidently a male fairy is meant.
[3] Singhāṭaka.
[4] Kim me katā. The me seems to be the dative of personal reference, now obsolete in English; B., however, sees in it 'me for ime (these).
[5] Acchare.
[6] Because of satiety, when we turn away from that of which we have been drinking. Comy.
[7] Creates its own essential spirit or juice, needing no external ingredients. Comy.
