7.
The Discourse on the Crossroads
77.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was travelling on a highway among the Kosalans with the Venerable Nāgasamāla as his attendant monk.
The Venerable Nāgasamāla saw a crossing of roads on the way.
Having seen the Blessed One, he said this -
"This, venerable sir, is the Blessed One's path;
let us go by this."
When this was said, the Blessed One said this to the Venerable Nāgasamāla -
"This, Nāgasamāla, is the path;
let us go by this."
For the second time, etc. For the third time the Venerable Nāgasamāla said this to the Blessed One - "This, venerable sir, is the Blessed One's path; let us go by this." For the third time the Blessed One said this to the Venerable Nāgasamāla - "This, Nāgasamāla, is the path; let us go by this." Then the Venerable Nāgasamāla, having placed the Blessed One's bowl and robes right there on the ground, departed - "This, venerable sir, is the Blessed One's bowl and robes."
Then as the Venerable Nāgasamāla was going by that path, thieves came out on the road and beat him with their hands and feet, broke his bowl, and tore his double robe. Then the Venerable Nāgasamāla, with his bowl broken and his double robe torn, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Nāgasamāla said this to the Blessed One - "Here, venerable sir, as I was going by that path, thieves came out on the road and beat me with their hands and feet, broke my bowl, and tore my double robe."
Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, at that time uttered this inspired utterance -
One who has attained the highest knowledge, mixed with another person;
The wise one abandons the evil one,
Like a heron that drinks milk abandons the water." The seventh.