sn.1.40 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Pajjunna’s Daughter (2)

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesali in the Great Wood, in the Hall with the Peaked Roof. Then, when the night had advanced, Cūḷakokanada, Pajjunna’s younger daughter, of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Great Wood, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, she paid homage to the Blessed One, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Here came Kokanada, Pajjunna’s daughter,
Beautiful as the gleam of lightning.
Venerating the Buddha and the Dhamma,
She spoke these verses full of meaning.

“Though the Dhamma is of such a nature
That I might analyse it in many ways,
I will state its meaning briefly
To the extent I have learnt it by heart.

“One should do no evil in all the world,
Not by speech, mind, or body.
Having abandoned sense pleasures,
Mindful and clearly comprehending,
One should not pursue a course
That is painful and harmful.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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With Pajjunna’s Daughter (2nd)

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.
Then, late at night, the beautiful Kokanadā the Younger, Pajjunna’s daughter, lighting up the entire Great Wood, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,
and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
“Kokanadā, Pajjunna’s daughter, came here,
beautiful as a flash of lightning.
Revering the Buddha and the teaching,
she spoke these verses full of meaning.
The teaching is such that
I could analyze it in many different ways.
However, I will state the meaning in brief
as far as I have learned it by heart.
You should never do anything bad
by speech or mind or body in all the world.
Having given up sensual pleasures, mindful and aware,
you shouldn’t keep doing what’s painful and pointless.”