[82] Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. Now on that occasion, as a number of bhikkhus who had returned from the alms round after the meal were seated together in assembly in the round pavilion by the Kareri tree, this topic of conversation arose among them: "Friends, a bhikkhu who lives on alms-food (piṇḍapātika), as he walks for alms, gets from time to time to see agreeable forms with the eye; he gets from time to time to hear agreeable sounds with the ear; he gets from time to time to smell agreeable odors with the nose; he gets from time to time to taste agreeable flavors with the tongue; he gets from time to time to touch agreeable tangibles with the body. Friends, a bhikkhu who lives on alms-food walks for alms honored, respected, esteemed, venerated, and revered. Come, friends, let us be those who live on alms-food; we too shall get from time to time to see agreeable forms with the eye; we too shall get from time to time to hear agreeable sounds with the ear; we too shall get from time to time to smell agreeable odors with the nose; we too shall get from time to time to taste agreeable flavors with the tongue; we too shall get from time to time to touch agreeable tangibles with the body; we too shall walk for alms honored, respected, esteemed, venerated, and revered." And this conversation of those bhikkhus was left unfinished.
Then the Blessed One, having emerged from seclusion in the evening, approached the round pavilion by the Kareri tree; having approached, he sat down on the seat made ready. Having sat down, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, for what talk are you now seated together here? And what was the conversation of yours that was left unfinished?"
"Here, venerable sir, when we had returned from the alms round after the meal and were seated together in assembly in the round pavilion by the Kareri tree, this topic of conversation arose among us: 'Friends, a bhikkhu who lives on alms-food, as he walks for alms, gets from time to time to see agreeable forms with the eye; he gets from time to time to hear agreeable sounds with the ear; he gets from time to time to smell agreeable odors with the nose; he gets from time to time to taste agreeable flavors with the tongue; he gets from time to time to touch agreeable tangibles with the body. Friends, a bhikkhu who lives on alms-food walks for alms honored, respected, esteemed, venerated, and revered. Come, friends, let us too be those who live on alms-food; we too shall get from time to time to see agreeable forms with the eye; we too shall get from time to time to hear agreeable sounds with the ear; we too shall get from time to time to smell agreeable odors with the nose; we too shall get from time to time to taste agreeable flavors with the tongue; we too shall get from time to time to touch agreeable tangibles with the body; we too shall walk for alms honored, respected, esteemed, venerated, and revered.' This, venerable sir, was the conversation of ours that was left unfinished; and then the Blessed One arrived."
"Bhikkhus, it is not fitting for you, sons of good families who have gone forth out of faith from the home life into homelessness, that you should engage in such talk. When you are gathered together, bhikkhus, there are two things to be done: either talk on the Dhamma or noble silence."
Then the Blessed One, having understood the meaning of this, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance (udāna):
"The bhikkhu who lives on alms-food,
who supports himself, nourishing no other—
the devas envy such a one (tādī),
if he is not dependent on praise and fame."
The eighth.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.