Udāna 8: Pāṭaligāmiyavaggo
The Chapter (including the Discourse) about the Pāṭalī Villagers
7: The Discourse on the Two Paths
Thus I heard:
at one time the Fortunate One was going along the high road amongst the Kosalans with venerable Nāgasamāla as the (attendant) ascetic who followed behind him.
The venerable Nāgasamāla saw two paths on the road, and having seen (that), he said this to the Fortunate One: “This is the path, reverend Sir, let us go by this one, Fortunate One.”
After that was said, the Fortunate One said this to venerable Nāgasamāla: “This is the path, Nāgasamāla, let us go by this one.”
For a second time venerable Nāgasamāla said this to the Fortunate One: “This is the path, reverend Sir, let us go by this one, Fortunate One.”
After that was said, the Fortunate One said this to venerable Nāgasamāla: “This is the path, Nāgasamāla, let us go by this one.”
For a third time venerable Nāgasamāla said this to the Fortunate One: “This is the path, reverend Sir, let us go by this one, Fortunate One.”
After that was said, the Fortunate One said this to venerable Nāgasamāla: “This is the path, Nāgasamāla, let us go by this one.”
Then venerable Nāgasamāla, having put the Fortunate One’s bowl and robe on the floor right there (and then), went away, (saying): “This is the Fortunate One’s bowl and robe, reverend Sir.”
Then as venerable Nāgasamāla was going along by that path, thieves who had gone along the road, attacked him with their hands and feet, broke his bowl, and tore his double-robe.
Then venerable Nāgasamāla, with his broken bowl and torn double-robe went to the Fortunate One, and after going and worshipping the Fortunate One, he sat down on one side.
While sat on one side venerable Nāgasamāla said this to the Fortunate One: “Here, reverend Sir, as I was going along by that path thieves who had gone along the path, attacked me with their hands and feet, broke my bowl, and tore my double-robe.”
Then the Fortunate One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:
“Walking together, dwelling as one,
The Perfect One mixes with ignorant people,
Having understood (that), he abandons bad deeds,
As the milk-drinking heron (abandons) water.”