This is as I heard from the Blessed One. Those days the Blessed One was living in the province of Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Park, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. One day, Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja was sitting not far from the Blessed One, his legs crossed, his body upright. He was a forest dweller, an alms-goer, a rag-robe wearer, an owner of only one set of three robes, living with few wishes, content, secluded, unsocial, his energy aroused, an encourager of the ascetic practices, devoted to the concentration of arahantship. The Blessed One saw Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja sitting not far away, his legs crossed, his body upright, a forest dweller, an alms-goer, a rag-robe wearer, an owner of only one set of three robes, living with few wishes, content, secluded, unsocial, his energy aroused, an encourager of the ascetic practices, devoted to the concentration of arahantship.
Then, on realizing the benefit of liberation, the Blessed One spoke the following inspired verse:
“The monk should not insult or harm anyone. He should be restrained by the Code of Discipline. He should take food reflecting wisely. He should live in faraway forests. He should be devoted to the attainment of Nibbāna. This is the instruction of all Buddhas.”
