So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Now at that time, after the meal, on return from almsround, several mendicants sat together in the pavilion by the kareri tree and this discussion came up among them: Tena kho pana samayena sambahulānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ karerimaṇḍalamāḷe sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi:

“Reverends, when a mendicant who eats only almsfood is wandering for alms, from time to time they get to see pleasing sights, hear pleasing sounds, smell pleasing smells, taste pleasing tastes, and encounter pleasing touches. “Piṇḍapātiko, āvuso, bhikkhu piṇḍāya caranto labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike sotena sadde sotuṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike ghānena gandhe ghāyituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike jivhāya rase sāyituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phusituṁ. They wander for alms being honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. Piṇḍapātiko, āvuso, bhikkhu sakkato garukato mānito pūjito apacito piṇḍāya carati. Come, we too should eat only almsfood. Handāvuso, mayampi piṇḍapātikā homa. From time to time we too will get to see pleasing sights, hear pleasing sounds, smell pleasing smells, taste pleasing tastes, and encounter pleasing touches. Mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ, mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike sotena sadde sotuṁ, mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike ghānena gandhe ghāyituṁ, mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike jivhāya rase sāyituṁ, mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phusituṁ; We too shall wander for alms being honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed.” mayampi sakkatā garukatā mānitā pūjitā apacitā piṇḍāya carissāmā”ti. At that point the conversation among those mendicants was left unfinished. Ayañcarahi tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ antarākathā hoti vippakatā.

Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the pavilion by the kareri tree, where he sat on the seat spread out Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena karerimaṇḍalamāḷo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. and addressed the mendicants: Nisajja kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?” “kāya nuttha, bhikkhave, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā, kā ca pana vo antarākathā vippakatā”ti?

So the mendicants told him what they had been talking about. The Buddha said, “Idha, bhante, amhākaṁ pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ karerimaṇḍalamāḷe sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi:

‘Piṇḍapātiko, āvuso, bhikkhu piṇḍāya caranto labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike sotena sadde sotuṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike ghānena gandhe ghāyituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike jivhāya rase sāyituṁ, labhati kālena kālaṁ manāpike kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phusituṁ. Piṇḍapātiko, āvuso, bhikkhu sakkato garukato mānito pūjito apacito piṇḍāya carati. Handāvuso, mayampi piṇḍapātikā homa. Mayampi lacchāma kālena kālaṁ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṁ …pe… kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phusituṁ. Mayampi sakkatā garukatā mānitā pūjitā apacitā piṇḍāya carissāmā’ti. Ayaṁ kho no, bhante, antarākathā vippakatā, atha bhagavā anuppatto”ti.

“Mendicants, it is not appropriate for you gentlemen who have gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness to talk about such things. “Na khvetaṁ, bhikkhave, tumhākaṁ patirūpaṁ kulaputtānaṁ saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitānaṁ yaṁ tumhe evarūpiṁ kathaṁ katheyyātha. When you’re sitting together you should do one of two things: Sannipatitānaṁ vo, bhikkhave, dvayaṁ karaṇīyaṁ—discuss the teachings or keep noble silence.” dhammī vā kathā ariyo vā tuṇhībhāvo”ti.

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

“A mendicant who relies on alms, “Piṇḍapātikassa bhikkhuno, self-supported, providing for no other; Attabharassa anaññaposino; the unaffected one is envied by even the gods, Devā pihayanti tādino, but not if they’re after popularity and reputation.” No ce saddasilokanissito”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.