SA 1073（一〇七三） 阿难

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, Venerable Ānanda was alone in a quiet place, and he had this thought: "There are three kinds of fragrances that can spread with the wind but not against the wind. What are the three? They are root fragrances, stem fragrances, and flower fragrances. Are there also fragrances that can spread both with and against the wind, and both with and against the wind?" Having had this thought, in the afternoon he emerged from meditation and went to where the Buddha was. He bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I was alone in a quiet place, and I had this thought: 'There are three kinds of fragrances that can spread with the wind but not against the wind. What are the three? They are root fragrances, stem fragrances, and flower fragrances. Are there also fragrances that can spread both with and against the wind, and both with and against the wind?'"

The Buddha told Ānanda, "It is so! It is so! There are three kinds of fragrances that can spread with the wind but not against the wind, namely root fragrances, stem fragrances, and flower fragrances. Ānanda! There are also fragrances that can spread both with and against the wind, and both with and against the wind. Ānanda! Those that can spread both with and against the wind, and both with and against the wind, are as follows: Ānanda! There are good men and good women who, in cities and villages, accomplish the true Dharma, and throughout their lives do not kill, steal, engage in sexual misconduct, speak falsely, or drink alcohol. Such good men and good women are praised by the virtuous people of the eight directions and above and below, who say, 'In such and such a place, such and such a good man or good woman upholds the precepts purely, accomplishes the true Dharma, and throughout their lives does not kill, up to not drinking alcohol.' Ānanda! This is called having a fragrance that spreads both with and against the wind, and both with and against the wind." At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse, saying:

The fragrance of roots, stems, and flowers cannot spread against the
wind, Only the fragrance of good men and women who uphold
the precepts purely. Spreading in all directions, it is universally known
Like the sandalwood of Takṣaśilā and the utpala and mallika flowers
Among all these fragrances, the fragrance of precepts is supreme, The
fragrance of sandalwood and others is limited in what it can
permeate. Only the fragrance of virtuous precepts rises and permeates the
heavens, This pure fragrance of precepts is due to right practice
without negligence. Right knowledge, liberation, and the path of the demons
cannot enter, This is called the path of peace and tranquility
this path is pure. It correctly leads to wonderful meditation and
concentration, severing the bonds of the demons.

Having spoken this sūtra, the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda, "Good, good! Ānanda, you have well understood the meaning of what I have said." Having heard the Buddha's words, Venerable Ānanda rejoiced and paid homage before departing.