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# SN 1:21 · A Sword (Satti Sutta)
- URL: https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/sn-1-21/
- Published: 2026-06-01T00:09:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-13T16:53:54.000Z
- Description: Saṁyutta Nikāya · SN 1:21. Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
- Author: Ninth Heaven Literature & Arts Association (NHLAA)
- Tags: Buddhism, Sutta Piṭaka, Text, Indian, The Buddha, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Saṁyutta Nikāya, Verse, Pali, Early Buddhist, Library, #Import 2026-07-06 03:31

As she was standing there, the devatā recited this verse in the Blessed One’s presence:

“As if struck by a sword,
as if his head were on fire,
a monk should live the wandering life
	—mindful—
for the abandoning of sensual passion.”

The Buddha:

“As if struck by a sword,
as if his head were on fire,
a monk should live the wandering life
	—mindful—
for the abandoning of self-identity.”

See also: [SN 22:1](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/sn-22-1/); [AN 10:51](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/an-10-51/); [Thag 1:39](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/thag-1-39/)

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*Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. © 2014 / rev. 2017 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu — released under the [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) licence, for free distribution only. Source: [dhammatalks.org](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN1%5F21.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) (Metta Forest Monastery).*