SN 9.11

Akusalavitakkasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe. Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu divāvihāragato pāpake akusale vitakke vitakketi, seyyathidaṁ— kāmavitakkaṁ, byāpādavitakkaṁ, vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ. Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tassa bhikkhuno anukampikā atthakāmā taṁ bhikkhuṁ saṁvejetukāmā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

Unskillful Thoughts

At one time one of the mendicants was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. Now at that time that mendicant, during their day’s meditation, was thinking bad, unskillful thoughts, that is, sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts. The deity haunting that forest had sympathy for that mendicant, and wanted what’s best for them. So they approached that mendicant wanting to stir them up, and addressed them in verse:

“Ayoniso manasikārā, so vitakkehi khajjasi; Ayoniso paṭinissajja, yoniso anucintaya.

“Because of irrational application of mind, you’re consumed by your thoughts. When you’ve given up irrationality, make sure your thoughts are rational.

Satthāraṁ dhammamārabbha, saṅghaṁ sīlāni attano; Adhigacchasi pāmojjaṁ, pītisukhamasaṁsayaṁ; Tato pāmojjabahulo, dukkhassantaṁ karissasī”ti.

Thinking about the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, and your own ethics, you’ll find gladness, and rapture and bliss as well, no doubt. And when you’re full of joy, you’ll make an end to suffering.”

Atha kho so bhikkhu tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.

Impelled by that deity, that mendicant was struck with a sense of urgency.