SO I HAVE HEARD. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Now at that time the householder’s son Sigālaka rose early and left Rājagaha. With his clothes and hair all wet, he raised his joined palms to revere the quarters—east, south, west, north, below, and above.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms. He saw Sigālaka revering the quarters and said to him, “Householder’s son, why are you revering the quarters in this way?”

“Sir, on his deathbed my father said to me: ‘My dear, please revere the quarters.’ Honoring, respecting, and venerating my father’s words, I rose early and left Rājagaha and, with my clothes and hair all wet, raised my joined palms to revere the quarters—east, south, west, north, below, and above.”

• DN31.1. The Six Quarters

• DN31.2. Four Corrupt Deeds

• DN31.3. Four Grounds

• DN31.4. Six Drains on Wealth

• DN31.5. Six Drawbacks of Drinking

• DN31.6. Six Drawbacks of Roaming the Streets at Night

• DN31.7. Six Drawbacks of Festivals

• DN31.8. Six Drawbacks of Gambling

• DN31.9. Six Drawbacks of Bad Friends

• DN31.10. Six Drawbacks of Laziness

• DN31.11. Fake Friends

• DN31.12. Good-Hearted Friends

• DN31.13. Covering the Six Quarters