Paṭhamasukkāsutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Tena kho pana samayena sukkā bhikkhunī mahatiyā parisāya parivutā dhammaṁ deseti. Atha kho sukkāya bhikkhuniyā abhippasanno yakkho rājagahe rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Now, at that time the nun Sukkā was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly. Then a native spirit was so devoted to Sukkā that he went from street to street and from square to square, and on that occasion recited these verses:

“Kiṁ me katā rājagahe manussā, Madhupītāva seyare; Ye sukkaṁ na payirupāsanti, Desentiṁ amataṁ padaṁ.

“What’s up with these people in Rājagaha? They sleep like they’ve been drinking mead! They don’t attend on Sukkā as she’s teaching the state free of death.

Tañca pana appaṭivānīyaṁ, Asecanakamojavaṁ; Pivanti maññe sappaññā, Valāhakamiva panthagū”ti.

But the wise— it’s as if they drink it up, so irresistible, delectable, and nutritious, like travelers enjoying a cool cloud.”