Aṅgulimālasutta

Suttapiṭaka · Majjhimanikāya · Vol. 13 · Section 530

[530] Then, in the morning, the venerable Aṅgulimāla dressed and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. As he was walking for alms on an uninterrupted round from house to house in Sāvatthī, the venerable Aṅgulimāla saw a certain woman in obstructed labor, with a difficult and painful delivery. On seeing her, this thought occurred to him: "Alas, how beings are afflicted! Alas, how beings are afflicted!" Then, when the venerable Aṅgulimāla had walked for alms in Sāvatthī and had returned from his almsround after his meal, he approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down at one side. Sitting at one side, the venerable Aṅgulimāla said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, here in the morning I dressed and, taking my bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. As I was walking for alms on an uninterrupted round from house to house in Sāvatthī, I saw a certain woman in obstructed labor, with a difficult and painful delivery. On seeing her, this thought occurred to me: 'Alas, how beings are afflicted! Alas, how beings are afflicted!'"

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.