Scents

Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One, worshipped, sat on a side and said to the Blessed One: Venerable sir, these three are the scents which go with the wind and not against the wind. What three? Nasty scents, the scent of the heart of trees and the scent of flowers. Venerable sir, these scents go with the wind and not against the wind. Venerable sir, is there a scent which goes with the wind and against the wind, a scent which goes both ways with and against the wind?

Ānanda, there is a scent which goes with the wind and against the wind, a scent which goes both ways with and against the wind.

Venerable sir, what is that scent which goes with the wind and against the wind, the scent which goes both ways with and against the wind?

Ānanda, in a certain village or hamlet, there is a woman or man, who has taken refuge in the Enlightened One, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. He abstains from destroying living things, taking the not given, in misbehaving sexually, telling lies, and taking intoxicating drinks. He is virtuous, of good conduct, lives having put an end to the blemish of miserliness. He is benevolent, with ready hands to give to the needy, making arrangements to give gifts. Recluses and brahmins in all directions praise him: In that village or hamlet, there is a man, who has taken refuge in the Enlightened One, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. He abstains from destroying living things, taking the not given, in misbehaving sexually, telling lies, and taking intoxicating drinks. He is virtuous, of good conduct, lives having put an end to the blemish of miserliness. He is benevolent, with ready hands to give to the needy, making arrangements to give gifts. Even the gods praise him: ... re ... Even non humans praise him: In that village or hamlet, there is a man, who has taken refuge in the Enlightened One, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. He abstains from destroying living things, taking the not given, in misbehaving sexually, telling lies, and taking intoxicating drinks. He is virtuous, of good conduct, lives having put an end to the blemish of miserliness. He is benevolent, with ready hands to give to the needy, making arrangements to give gifts.

Ānanda, this is the scent which goes with the wind and against the wind, the scent which goes both ways with and against the wind.

The scents of flowers do not go against the wind, not of chandana, tagara or mallika;
The scent of Great Beings go against the wind, it pervades all directions.