1So I have heard. At one time Venerable Vaṅgīsa was staying near Āḷavī, at the Aggāḷava Tree-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 Aggāḷava 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:

2“Now that I’ve renounced
the home life for homelessness
I’m overrun
by the impudent thoughts of the Dark One.

3Even if a thousand mighty princes and great archers,
well trained, with strong bows,
were to completely surround me;
I would never flee.

4And even if women come,
many more than that,
they won’t scare me,
for I stand firm in the teaching.

5I heard this with my own ears
from the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun,
about the path going to extinguishment;
that’s what delights my mind.

6Wicked 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.”

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā vaṅgīso āḷaviyaṁ vihārati 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:

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

3Uggaputtā mahissāsā,
sikkhitā daḷhadhammino;
Samantā parikireyyuṁ,
sahassaṁ apalāyinaṁ.

4Sacepi etato bhiyyo,
āgamissanti itthiyo;
Neva maṁ byādhayissanti,
dhamme samhi patiṭṭhitaṁ.

5Sakkhī hi me sutaṁ etaṁ,
buddhassādiccabandhuno;
Nibbānagamanaṁ maggaṁ,
tattha me nirato mano.

6Evañce maṁ vihārantaṁ,
pāpima upagacchasi;
Tathā maccu karissāmi,
na me maggampi dakkhasī"ti.