The Discourse about Mocking

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ carati mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā māṇavakā bhagavato avidūre sadhāyamānarūpā atikkamanti.

Addasā kho bhagavā sambahule māṇavake avidūre sadhāyamānarūpe atikkante.

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Parimuṭṭhā paṇḍitābhāsā,

vācāgocarabhāṇino;

Yāvicchanti mukhāyāmaṁ,

yena nītā na taṁ vidū”ti.

Navamaṁ.

SC 1Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was walking on walking tour amongst the Kosalans, together with a great Community of monks. Then at that time a great many young brāhmaṇas were passing by not far from the Gracious One in a mocking manner. The Gracious One saw those many young brāhmaṇas passing by not far away in a mocking manner.

SC 2Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

SC 3“The forgetful, speaking unsuitable words, though appearing to be wise,
Stretching their mouths as much as they want, are led on by what they don’t understand.”