Guhatthaka Sutta
The second sutta of the Aá¹á¹hakavagga of the Sutta NipÄta; it was taught to Piṇá¸olabhÄradvÄja. He once went to Udakavana in KosambÄ«, and there the women of King Udena’s palace, who had come to the park with the king, left the king while he slept, and, finding the Elder, sat down and listened to his teaching. The king, awakening, went in search of them, and was angry when he discovered their where-abouts. He questioned Piṇá¸ola as to the solitude which he professed to seek in the park, but Piṇá¸ola refusing to answer, the king threatened to set red ants at him. Thereupon Piṇá¸ola went through the air to the Buddha’s Gandhakuti and related the story. The Buddha was reclining on his bed and, in that position, taught this sutta to the Elder.
A man who clings to the body and to the pleasures of the senses, lives in constant fear. One should therefore cast off greed and cross the flood, unstained by the world (SN.vv.772-9; SNA.ii.514ff).
The sutta probably derives its name from the fact that, in the first verse, the body is spoken of as a cave (guhÄ).
It is commented on in the MahÄ Niddesa pp.23ff.
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