With Visākhā

Ud 2.9 · Visākhāsutta

Clear woodland water flowing around stones and fern fronds.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery. Now at that time Visākhā was caught up in some business with King Pasenadi. But the king’s settlement did not meet her expectations.

Then, in the middle of the day, she went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down. The Buddha said to her: “So, Visākhā, where are you coming from in the middle of the day?” “Sir, I am caught up in some business with King Pasenadi. But the king’s settlement did not meet my expectations.”

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“All under another’s control is suffering, all under one’s own authority is pleasing; what’s shared is stressful for both parties, for yokes are hard to escape.”

Connections

Collection & context

UdānaThe collection containing this text
The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting

Books

Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology
On the Path: An Anthology on the Noble Eightfold Path drawn from the Pāli CanonṬhānissaro Bhikkhu · Referenced in this book

About this edition

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.