Udāna 12

Heartfelt Sayings 2.2

Kings

1 So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time, after the meal, on return from almsround, several mendicants sat together in the assembly hall and this discussion came up among them: “Which of these two kings has greater wealth, riches, treasury, dominion, vehicles, forces, might, and power: King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha or King Pasenadi of Kosala?” At that point the conversation among those mendicants was left unfinished.

2 Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat, went to the assembly hall, sat down on the seat spread out, and addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?”

3 So the mendicants told him what they had been talking about when the Buddha arrived. The Buddha said,

4 “Mendicants, it is not appropriate for you gentlemen who have gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness to talk about such things. When you’re sitting together you should do one of two things: discuss the teachings or keep noble silence.”

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

6 “Neither the pleasures of the senses,

nor even divine happiness,

is worth even a sixteenth part

of the happiness of craving’s end.”