SN 9.4

Sambahulasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ sambahulā bhikkhū kosalesu viharanti aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe. Atha kho te bhikkhū vassaṁvuṭṭhā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamiṁsu. Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā te bhikkhū apassantī paridevamānā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Several Mendicants Set Out Wandering

At one time several mendicants were staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. Then after completing the three months of the rainy season residence, those mendicants set out wandering. Not seeing those mendicants, the deity haunting that forest cried. And on that occasion they spoke this verse:

“Arati viya mejja khāyati, Bahuke disvāna vivitte āsane; Te cittakathā bahussutā, Kome gotamasāvakā gatā”ti.

“Dissatisfaction, it seems to me today, seeing so many vacated seats. They were so learned, such brilliant speakers! Where have these disciples of Gotama gone?”

Evaṁ vutte, aññatarā devatā taṁ devataṁ gāthāya paccabhāsi:

When they had spoken, another deity replied with this verse:

“Māgadhaṁ gatā kosalaṁ gatā, Ekacciyā pana vajjibhūmiyā; Magā viya asaṅgacārino, Aniketā viharanti bhikkhavo”ti.

“They’ve gone to Magadha, they’ve gone to Kosala, and some are in the Vajjian lands. Like deer that wander free of ties, the mendicants live with no abode.”