Nikkhantasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā vaṅgīso āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye āyasmatā nigrodhakappena upajjhāyena saddhiṁ. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā vaṅgīso navako hoti acirapabbajito ohiyyako vihārapālo. Atha kho sambahulā itthiyo samalaṅkaritvā yena aggāḷavako ārāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu vihārapekkhikāyo. Atha kho āyasmato vaṅgīsassa tā itthiyo disvā anabhirati uppajjati, rāgo cittaṁ anuddhaṁseti. Atha kho āyasmato vaṅgīsassa etadahosi: “alābhā vata me, na vata me lābhā; dulladdhaṁ vata me, na vata me suladdhaṁ; yassa me anabhirati uppannā, rāgo cittaṁ anuddhaṁseti, taṁ kutettha labbhā, yaṁ me paro anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādeyya. Yannūnāhaṁ attanāva attano anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādeyyan”ti. Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso attanāva attano anabhiratiṁ vinodetvā abhiratiṁ uppādetvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

So I have heard. At one time Venerable Vaṅgīsa was staying near Āḷavī, at Āḷavī’s premier shrine, together with his mentor, Venerable Nigrodhakappa. Now at that time Vaṅgīsa was junior, recently gone forth. He had been left behind to look after the dwelling. Then several women dressed in all their finery went to the monastery at Āḷavī’s premier shrine in order to inspect the dwelling. When Vaṅgīsa saw them he became dissatisfied, with lust infecting his mind. Then he thought, “It’s my loss, my misfortune, that I’ve become dissatisfied, with lust infecting my mind. How is it possible for someone else to dispel my discontent and give rise to satisfaction? Why don’t I do it myself?” Then, on the occasion of dispelling his own discontent and giving rise to satisfaction, he recited these verses:

“Nikkhantaṁ vata maṁ santaṁ, agārasmānagāriyaṁ; Vitakkā upadhāvanti, pagabbhā kaṇhato ime.

“Now that I’ve renounced the lay life for homelessness, I’m overrun by the rude thoughts of the Dark One.

Uggaputtā mahissāsā, sikkhitā daḷhadhammino; Samantā parikireyyuṁ, sahassaṁ apalāyinaṁ.

Even if a thousand warrior chiefs and great archers, well trained, with strong bows, were to completely surround me; I would never flee.

Sacepi etato bhiyyo, āgamissanti itthiyo; Neva maṁ byādhayissanti, dhamme samhi patiṭṭhitaṁ.

And even if women come, many more than that, they won’t bother me, for I stand firm in the teaching.

Sakkhī hi me sutaṁ etaṁ, buddhassādiccabandhuno; Nibbānagamanaṁ maggaṁ, tattha me nirato mano.

I heard with my own ears from the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun, about the path going to extinguishment; that’s what delights my mind.

Evañce maṁ viharantaṁ, pāpima upagacchasi; Tathā maccu karissāmi, na me maggampi dakkhasī”ti.

Wicked One, if you come near me as I meditate like this, I’ll make sure that you, Death, won’t even see the path I take.”