[474] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling near Āḷavī, on a spread of leaves at the Gomagga in the Siṃsapā grove. Then Hatthaka of Āḷavī, while walking and wandering about for exercise, saw the Blessed One seated on the spread of leaves at the Gomagga in the Siṃsapā grove. Having seen him, he approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Hatthaka of Āḷavī said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, did the Blessed One sleep well?"
"Yes, young man, I slept well. Of those in the world who sleep well, I am one."
"Cold, venerable sir, is the winter night; this is the eight-day interval, the time when snow falls; harsh is the ground trampled by the hooves of cattle; thin is the spread of leaves; sparse are the leaves of the tree; cold are the ochre robes; and cold blows the verambha wind. Yet the Blessed One says thus: 'Yes, young man, I slept well. Of those in the world who sleep well, I am one.'"
"Well then, young man, I shall question you about this in return; answer as you see fit. What do you think, young man? Suppose a householder or a householder's son had a peaked house, plastered within and without, draft-free, with door-panels fitted and windows shut. There he would have a couch spread with a long-fleeced woolen cover, spread with a white wool coverlet, spread with an embroidered coverlet, with a choice spread of kadali-deer hide, with a canopy above and red bolsters at both ends; an oil lamp would be burning there, and four wives would attend upon him in most agreeable ways. What do you think, young man—would he sleep well or not, or how does it strike you here?"
"He would sleep well, venerable sir. Of those in the world who sleep well, he would be one."
"What do you think, young man? Might there not arise in that householder or householder's son fevers (pariḷāha) born of lust, bodily or mental, burned by which he would sleep badly?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"Young man, that lust, burned by fevers born of which that householder or householder's son would sleep badly, has been abandoned by the Tathāgata, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, no longer subject to arising in the future. Therefore I slept well. What do you think, young man? Might there not arise in that householder or householder's son fevers born of hatred … fevers born of delusion, bodily or mental, burned by which he would sleep badly?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"Young man, that delusion, burned by fevers born of which that householder or householder's son would sleep badly, has been abandoned by the Tathāgata, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, no longer subject to arising in the future. Therefore I slept well."
Always indeed he sleeps well,
the brahmin who is fully quenched,
who is not smeared with sensual pleasures,
grown cool, without acquisitions.
Having cut off all attachments,
having removed the anguish in the heart,
the peaceful one sleeps well,
having attained peace of mind (citta).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.