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Teasing

Ud 5.9 · Sadhāyamānasutta

Dew on a delicate web between flowering branches.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants. Now at that time several young students were passing by not far from the Buddha in a teasing manner. The Buddha saw them.

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

“Dolts pretending to be astute, they talk, their words out of bounds. They blab at will, their mouths agape, and no one knows what leads them on.”

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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.