1At one time Venerable Nāgadatta was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

Now at that time Venerable Nāgadatta had been entering the village too early and returning late in the day. Then the deity haunting that forest had compassion for Nāgadatta, wanting what’s best for him. So they approached him wanting to stir him up, and recited these verses:

2“Entering too early,
and returning after spending too much of the day,
Nāgadatta socializes with lay people,
sharing their joys and sorrows.

3I’m afraid for Nāgadatta; he’s so reckless
in his attachment to families.
May he not come under the King of Death’s power,
under the sway of the terminator!”

4Impelled by that deity, Venerable Nāgadatta was struck with a sense of urgency.

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā nāgadatto kosalesu vihārati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā nāgadatto atikālena gāmaṁ pavisati, atidivā paṭikkamati. Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā āyasmato nāgadattassa anukampikā atthakāmā āyasmantaṁ nāgadattaṁ saṁvejetukāmā yenāyasmā nāgadatto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ nāgadattaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi: 

2"Kāle pavisa nāgadatta,
Divā ca āgantvā ativelacārī;
Saṁsaṭṭho gāhaṭṭhehi,
Samānasukhadukkho.

3Bhāyāmi nāgadattaṁ suppagabbhaṁ,
Kulesu vinibaddhaṁ;
Mā heva maccurañño balavato,
Antakassa vasaṁ upesī"ti.

4Atha kho āyasmā nāgadatto tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.