At Sāma Village

Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire lotus pond, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,“Sir, three qualities lead to the decline of a mendicant.What three?Relishing work, talk, and sleep.These three qualities lead to the decline of a mendicant.”

Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ pokkharaṇiyaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Tayome, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame tayo? Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā—ime kho, bhante, tayo dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire lotus pond, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ pokkharaṇiyaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, three qualities lead to the decline of a mendicant.“Tayome, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti. What three?Katame tayo? Relishing work, talk, and sleep.Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā—These three qualities lead to the decline of a mendicant.”ime kho, bhante, tayo dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

That’s what that deity said,and the teacher approved.Then that deity, knowing that the teacher approved, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

Idamavoca sā devatā. Samanuñño satthā ahosi. Atha kho sā devatā “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

That’s what that deity said,Idamavoca sā devatā. and the teacher approved.Samanuñño satthā ahosi. Then that deity, knowing that the teacher approved, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.Atha kho sā devatā “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha told the mendicants all that had happened, adding:

Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi: “imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ pokkharaṇiyaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca: ‘tayome, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame tayo? Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā—ime kho, bhante, tayo dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha told the mendicants all that had happened, adding:Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi: “imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ pokkharaṇiyaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca: ‘tayome, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame tayo? Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā—ime kho, bhante, tayo dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

“It’s unfortunate for those of you who even the deities know are declining in skillful qualities.I will teach you three more qualities that lead to decline.Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā. Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi. Tesaṁ vo, bhikkhave, alābhā tesaṁ dulladdhaṁ, ye vo devatāpi jānanti kusalehi dhammehi parihāyamāne. *vo → kho (mr)Aparepi, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniye dhamme desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā. Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi. “It’s unfortunate for those of you who even the deities know are declining in skillful qualities.Tesaṁ vo, bhikkhave, alābhā tesaṁ dulladdhaṁ, ye vo devatāpi jānanti kusalehi dhammehi parihāyamāne. *vo → kho (mr)I will teach you three more qualities that lead to decline.Aparepi, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniye dhamme desessāmi. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.The Buddha said this:

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Yes, sir,” they replied.“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this:Bhagavā etadavoca:

“And what, mendicants, are three qualities that lead to decline?Enjoyment of company, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends.These three qualities lead to decline.

“katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniyā dhammā? Saṅgaṇikārāmatā, dovacassatā, pāpamittatā—ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniyā dhammā.

“And what, mendicants, are three qualities that lead to decline?“katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniyā dhammā? Enjoyment of company, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends.Saṅgaṇikārāmatā, dovacassatā, pāpamittatā—These three qualities lead to decline.ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniyā dhammā.

Whether in the past, future, or present, all those who decline in skillful qualities do so because of these six qualities.”

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ parihāyiṁsu kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyiṁsu kusalehi dhammehi. Yepi hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ parihāyissanti kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyissanti kusalehi dhammehi. Yepi hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi parihāyanti kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyanti kusalehi dhammehī”ti.

Whether in the past, future, or present, all those who decline in skillful qualities do so because of these six qualities.”Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ parihāyiṁsu kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyiṁsu kusalehi dhammehi. Yepi hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ parihāyissanti kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyissanti kusalehi dhammehi. Yepi hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi parihāyanti kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyanti kusalehi dhammehī”ti.