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SN 47.20 
Saṁyutta Nikāya 
The Connected Discourses 
 
Mahāvagga Saṁyutta 
(Connected Discourses on the Great Section) 
Satipaṭṭhāna Saṁyutta 
(Connected Discourses on the Establishments of Mindfulness) 
Nāḷandā Vagga 
(The Section on Nāḷandā) 
 
Janapadakalyāṇī Sutta 
“The Most Beautiful Young Woman” 
 
Translated by Bhikkhu Candana 
Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2023 
 
This is what I personally heard.  
 
Once, The Blessed One was staying in the country of the Sumbha people, near the town of 
Sedaka, when He addressed the Bhikkhus and said:  
 
“Bhikkhus!” 
 
“Yes, Bhante!” those Bhikkhus replied.  
 
And The Blessed One continued: 
 
“Imagine, Bhikkhus, the population in a town, a city, or a region, are all told about ‘the most 
beautiful young woman in all the land,’ as they keep hearing the announcement being made on 
how ‘the most beautiful young woman in all the land’ would soon be appearing in their village, 
city, or region! 
 
“Now, having heard the news, a great multitude of people would show up from everywhere, and 
soon enough, a great crowd would assemble there.  
 
“Then, on seeing that ‘most beautiful young woman in all the land’ standing there in front of 
them, all decorated, making herself even more attractive, as she starts performing for those who 
are there to witness this ‘most beautiful young woman in all the land,’ especially as she begins

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singing seductively and dancing in the most provocative way, the news then quickly spreads 
even more.  
 
“So, on hearing that ‘the most beautiful young woman in all the land’ is there, in that village, 
city, or region, performing for all gathered, as she continues singing seductively and dancing in 
the most provocative way, even bigger crowds of people start rushing to witness this spectacle, 
gathering in larger crowds around her. 
 
“Meanwhile, there would be another man, who is very much eager to continue living his life, 
unwilling to die, desiring to be happy and very much driven to avoid any kind of pain or 
suffering. 
 
“Now, it so happens that this man is in a situation where he is commanded to obey certain 
orders; otherwise, he would lose his life, right on the spot. Thus, he is told the following: 
 
‘Sir, hold this bowl that is full to the brim with oil carefully with your hands, and carry it with 
you as you walk among the hoard of people gathered there, pacing back and forth between the 
crowd and that most beautiful young woman in all the land, who is performing right there in 
front of you and everyone else! 
 
‘Also, be aware that there is a giant of a man walking right next to you, an executioner, with his 
big and very sharp sword that is already pulled out of its scabbard; and having raised it right 
above your neck, he is fixed on you, as you continue carrying the bowl of oil, full to the brim, 
carefully waiting to see the first sign of you spilling even a single drop of oil from the bowl, at 
which point he would bring down his sharp sword, and chop off your head, without a moment’s 
hesitation!’ 
 
“Now, what do you think, Bhikkhus, would that man forget about the bowl of oil he is carrying 
and start looking here and there, or at that woman entertaining the crowd? Or would he become 
negligent to keep his attention fixed on the bowl, making sure that despite walking among all the 
noise and distractions, amidst the crazed crowds of people gathered around him, his attentive 
eyes would never leave their gaze from that oil-filled bowl he carries, making sure not even a 
single drop is spilled, as he continues pacing back and forth? 
 
“Oh no, Bhante! He would not dare to become negligent with the bowl, Bhante!” replied the 
Bhikkhus. 
 
“Bhikkhus, I have come up with this simile to make you understand something deep, the 
meaning of which is the following: 
 
“Now, pay close attention, for the bowl that is full to the brim with oil is none other than a 
metaphor for mindfulness that must be aimed at the body.  
 
“Thus, Bhikkhus, you must train yourselves in this manner:

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‘We will practice and continue cultivating our mindfulness aimed at the body, making it our 
method, the object and vehicle of practice, the foundation of our training; stabilizing and 
becoming excellent at it, maintaining it as our primary exercise, and thus fully perfect it.’  
 
“Therefore, Bhikkhus, this is how you must train yourselves, day and night!” 
 
Sādhu 
 
Sādhu 
 
Sādhu