With Jantu

So I have heard.

At one time several mendicants were staying in the Kosalan lands, in a wilderness hut on the slopes of the Himalayas. They were restless, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, loose-tongued, unmindful, lacking situational awareness and immersion, with straying minds and undisciplined faculties. ^[1]

Then on the fifteenth day sabbath the godling Jantu went up to those mendicants and addressed them in verse: ^[2]

“The mendicants used to live happily,

as disciples of Gotama.

Desireless they sought alms;

desireless they used their lodgings.

Knowing that the world was impermanent

they made an end of suffering.

But now they’ve made themselves hard to look after,

like chiefs in a village.

They eat and eat and then lie down,

passed out in the homes of others. ^[3]

Having raised my cupped palms to the Saṅgha,

I speak here only about certain people.

They’re dregs, with no protector,

just like those who have passed away.

I’m speaking about

those who live negligently.

To those who live diligently

I pay homage.”