Wakeful

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

[1][pts][than] 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.

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

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

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

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.