Saṁyutta Nikāya 21.8

The Related Suttas Collection 21.8

1. Bhikkhuvagga

1. Monks

Nandasutta

With Nanda

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho āyasmā nando bhagavato mātucchāputto ākoṭitapaccākoṭitāni cīvarāni pārupitvā akkhīni añjetvā acchaṁ pattaṁ gahetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ nandaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then Venerable Nanda—the Buddha’s cousin on his mother’s side—dressed in nicely pressed and ironed robes, applied eyeshadow, and took a polished black bowl. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“na kho te taṁ, nanda, patirūpaṁ kulaputtassa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitassa, yaṁ tvaṁ ākoṭitapaccākoṭitāni cīvarāni pārupeyyāsi, akkhīni ca añjeyyāsi, acchañca pattaṁ dhāreyyāsi. Etaṁ kho te, nanda, patirūpaṁ kulaputtassa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitassa, yaṁ tvaṁ āraññiko ca assasi, piṇḍapātiko ca paṁsukūliko ca kāmesu ca anapekkho vihareyyāsī”ti.

“Nanda, as a gentleman who has gone forth in faith from the lay life to homelessness, it’s not appropriate for you to dress in nicely pressed and ironed robes, apply eyeshadow, and carry a polished black bowl. It’s appropriate for you to stay in the wilderness, eat only almsfood, wear rag robes, and live without concern for sensual pleasures.”

Idamavoca bhagavā …pe… satthā:

That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Kadāhaṁ nandaṁ passeyyaṁ, āraññaṁ paṁsukūlikaṁ; Aññātuñchena yāpentaṁ, kāmesu anapekkhinan”ti.

“When will I see Nanda in the wilderness, wearing rag robes, feeding on scraps offered by strangers, unconcerned for sensual pleasures?”

Atha kho āyasmā nando aparena samayena āraññiko ca piṇḍapātiko ca paṁsukūliko ca kāmesu ca anapekkho vihāsīti.

Then some time later Venerable Nanda stayed in the wilderness, ate only almsfood, wore rag robes, and lived without concern for sensual pleasures.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.