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← Saṃyutta Nikāya

With Jantu

SN 2.25 · Jantusutta

Clear spring water flowing over the edge of a mossy rock basin.

So I have heard.

At one time several mendicants were staying in the Kosalan lands, in a wilderness hut on the slopes of the Himalayas. They were haughty, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, loose-tongued, unmindful, lacking situational awareness and immersion, with straying minds and undisciplined faculties.

Then on the fifteenth day sabbath the godling Jantu went up to those mendicants and addressed them in verse:

“The mendicants used to live happily, as disciples of Gotama. Desireless they sought alms; desireless they used their lodgings. Knowing that the world was impermanent they made an end of suffering.

But now they’ve made themselves hard to look after, like chiefs in a village. They eat and eat and then lie down, passed out in the homes of others.

Having raised my cupped palms to the Saṅgha, I speak here only about certain people. They’re dregs, with no protector, just like those who have passed away.

I’m speaking about those who live negligently. To those who live diligently I pay homage.”

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Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.