AN 6.21

Sāmakasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati sāmagāmake pokkharaṇiyāyaṁ. Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ pokkharaṇiyaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

At Sāma Village

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans near the little village of Sāma, by a lotus pond. Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire lotus pond, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,

“Tayome, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame tayo? Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā— ime kho, bhante, tayo dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattantī”ti. Idamavoca sā devatā. Samanuñño satthā ahosi. Atha kho sā devatā “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

“Sir, three qualities lead to the decline of a mendicant. What three? Relishing work, talk, and sleep. These three qualities lead to the decline of a mendicant.” That is what that deity said, and the Teacher concurred. Then that deity, knowing that the Teacher concurred, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi: “imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ pokkharaṇiyaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca: ‘tayome, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame tayo? Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā— ime kho, bhante, tayo dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattantī’ti. Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā. Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi. Tesaṁ vo, bhikkhave, alābhā tesaṁ dulladdhaṁ, ye vo devatāpi jānanti kusalehi dhammehi parihāyamāne.

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha told the mendicants all that had happened, adding: “It’s unfortunate for those of you who even the deities know are declining in skillful qualities.

Aparepi, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniye dhamme desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca: “katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniyā dhammā? Saṅgaṇikārāmatā, dovacassatā, pāpamittatā— ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniyā dhammā.

I will teach you three more qualities that lead to decline. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this: “And what, mendicants, are three qualities that lead to decline? Enjoyment of company, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends. These three qualities lead to decline.

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ parihāyiṁsu kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyiṁsu kusalehi dhammehi. Yepi hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ parihāyissanti kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyissanti kusalehi dhammehi. Yepi hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi parihāyanti kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyanti kusalehi dhammehī”ti.

Whether in the past, future, or present, all those who decline in skillful qualities do so because of these six qualities.”