1. Vanavagga

Saṁyutta Nikāya 9.11

Linked Discourses 9.11

1. Vanavagga

1. In the Woods

Akusalavitakkasutta

Unskillful Thoughts

Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

At one time one of the mendicants was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu divāvihāragato pāpake akusale vitakke vitakketi, seyyathidaṁ—

Now at that time that mendicant, during their day’s meditation, was thinking bad, unskillful thoughts, that is,

kāmavitakkaṁ, byāpādavitakkaṁ, vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ.

sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.

Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tassa bhikkhuno anukampikā atthakāmā taṁ bhikkhuṁ saṁvejetukāmā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

The deity haunting that forest had sympathy for that mendicant, and wanted what’s best for them. So they approached that mendicant wanting to stir them up, and addressed them in verse:

“Ayoniso manasikārā,

“Because of irrational application of mind,

so vitakkehi khajjasi;

you’re consumed by your thoughts.

Ayoniso paṭinissajja,

When you’ve given up irrationality,

yoniso anucintaya.

make sure your thoughts are rational.

Satthāraṁ dhammamārabbha,

Thinking about the Teacher, the teaching,

saṅghaṁ sīlāni attano;

the Saṅgha, and your own ethics,

Adhigacchasi pāmojjaṁ,

you’ll find gladness,

pītisukhamasaṁsayaṁ;

and rapture and bliss as well, no doubt.

Tato pāmojjabahulo,

And when you’re full of joy,

dukkhassantaṁ karissasī”ti.

you’ll make an end to suffering.”

Atha kho so bhikkhu tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.

Impelled by that deity, that mendicant was struck with a sense of urgency.