So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was traveling along a road in the Kosalan lands with Venerable Nāgasamāla as his second monk. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu addhānamaggappaṭipanno hoti āyasmatā nāgasamālena pacchāsamaṇena. Nāgasamāla saw a fork in the road Addasā kho āyasmā nāgasamālo antarāmagge dvidhāpathaṁ. and said to the Buddha, Disvāna bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, this is the road, “ayaṁ, bhante, bhagavā pantho; let us go this way.” iminā gacchāmā”ti. But when he said this the Buddha responded, Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā āyasmantaṁ nāgasamālaṁ etadavoca: “Nāgasamāla, this is the road, “ayaṁ, nāgasamāla, pantho; let us go this way.” iminā gacchāmā”ti.

For a second time, Dutiyampi kho …pe… and a third time Nāgasamāla said to the Buddha, tatiyampi kho āyasmā nāgasamālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, this is the road, “ayaṁ, bhante, bhagavā pantho; let us go this way.” iminā gacchāmā”ti. And for a third time the Buddha responded, Tatiyampi kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ nāgasamālaṁ etadavoca: “Nāgasamāla, this is the road, “ayaṁ, nāgasamāla, pantho; let us go this way.” iminā gacchāmā”ti. Then Nāgasamāla put the Buddha’s bowl and robes down on the ground right there and left, saying, Atha kho āyasmā nāgasamālo bhagavato pattacīvaraṁ tattheva chamāyaṁ nikkhipitvā pakkāmi: “Sir, here are your bowl and robes.” “idaṁ, bhante, bhagavato pattacīvaran”ti.

Then as Nāgasamāla was going down that road, he was set upon by bandits who struck him with fists and feet, broke his bowl, and tore up his outer robe. Atha kho āyasmato nāgasamālassa tena panthena gacchantassa antarāmagge corā nikkhamitvā hatthehi ca pādehi ca ākoṭesuṁ pattañca bhindiṁsu saṅghāṭiñca vipphālesuṁ. Then Nāgasamāla—with his bowl broken and his outer robe torn—went to the Buddha and told him what had happened. Atha kho āyasmā nāgasamālo bhinnena pattena vipphālitāya saṅghāṭiyā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā nāgasamālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idha mayhaṁ, bhante, tena panthena gacchantassa antarāmagge corā nikkhamitvā hatthehi ca pādehi ca ākoṭesuṁ, pattañca bhindiṁsu, saṅghāṭiñca vipphālesun”ti.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment: Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Walking together, dwelling as one, “Saddhiṁ caramekato vasaṁ, the knowledge master mixes with foolish folk. Misso aññajanena vedagū; Knowing this, they give up wickedness, Vidvā pajahāti pāpakaṁ, like a milk-drinking heron the water.” Koñco khīrapakova ninnagan”ti.

Sattamaṁ.