Udāna 49

Heartfelt Sayings 5.9

Teasing

1 So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants. Now at that time several young students were passing by not far from the Buddha in a teasing manner. The Buddha saw them.

2 Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

3 “Dolts pretending to be astute,

they talk, their words out of bounds.

They blab at will, their mouths agape,

and no one knows what leads them on.”