So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time Venerable Vaṅgīsa was staying near Āḷavī, at Āḷavī’s premier shrine, together with his mentor, Venerable Nigrodhakappa. ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā vaṅgīso āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye āyasmatā nigrodhakappena upajjhāyena saddhiṁ.

Now at that time Vaṅgīsa was junior, recently gone forth. He had been left behind to look after the dwelling. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā vaṅgīso navako hoti acirapabbajito ohiyyako vihārapālo.

Then several women dressed in all their finery went to the monastery at Āḷavī’s premier shrine in order to inspect the dwelling. Atha kho sambahulā itthiyo samalaṅkaritvā yena aggāḷavako ārāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu vihārapekkhikāyo. When Vaṅgīsa saw them he became dissatisfied, with lust infecting his mind. Atha kho āyasmato vaṅgīsassa tā itthiyo disvā anabhirati uppajjati, rāgo cittaṁ anuddhaṁseti.

Then he thought, Atha kho āyasmato vaṅgīsassa etadahosi: “It’s my loss, my misfortune, “alābhā vata me, na vata me lābhā; dulladdhaṁ vata me, na vata me suladdhaṁ; that I’ve become dissatisfied, with lust infecting my mind. How is it possible for someone else to dispel my discontent and give rise to satisfaction? yassa me anabhirati uppannā, rāgo cittaṁ anuddhaṁseti, taṁ kutettha labbhā, yaṁ me paro anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādeyya. Why don’t I do it myself?” Yannūnāhaṁ attanāva attano anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādeyyan”ti.

Then, on the occasion of dispelling his own discontent and giving rise to satisfaction, he recited these verses: Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso attanāva attano anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādetvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“Now that I’ve renounced “Nikkhantaṁ vata maṁ santaṁ, the home life for homelessness agārasmānagāriyaṁ; I’m overrun Vitakkā upadhāvanti, by the rude thoughts of the Dark One. pagabbhā kaṇhato ime.

Even if a thousand warrior chiefs and great archers, Uggaputtā mahissāsā, well trained, with strong bows, sikkhitā daḷhadhammino; were to completely surround me; Samantā parikireyyuṁ, I would never flee. sahassaṁ apalāyinaṁ.

And even if women come, Sacepi etato bhiyyo, many more than that, āgamissanti itthiyo; they won’t bother me, Neva maṁ byādhayissanti, for I stand firm in the teaching. dhamme samhi patiṭṭhitaṁ.

I heard with my own ears Sakkhī hi me sutaṁ etaṁ, from the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun, buddhassādiccabandhuno; about the path going to extinguishment; Nibbānagamanaṁ maggaṁ, that’s what delights my mind. tattha me nirato mano.

Wicked One, if you come near me Evañce maṁ viharantaṁ, as I meditate like this, pāpima upagacchasi; I’ll make sure that you, Death, Tathā maccu karissāmi, won’t even see the path I take.” na me maggampi dakkhasī”ti.