Majjhanhikasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 9.12

Linked Discourses 9.12

1. Vanavagga

1. In the Woods

Majjhanhikasutta

Midday

Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

At one time one of the mendicants was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

Atha kho tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tassa bhikkhuno santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

The deity haunting that forest approached that mendicant and spoke this verse in their presence:

“Ṭhite majjhanhike kāle,

“In the still of high noon,

sannisīvesu pakkhisu;

when the birds have settled down,

Saṇateva brahāraññaṁ,

the mighty forest itself resounds—

taṁ bhayaṁ paṭibhāti maṁ.

that strikes me as so scary!”

Ṭhite majjhanhike kāle,

“In the still of high noon,

sannisīvesu pakkhisu;

when the birds have settled down,

Saṇateva brahāraññaṁ,

the mighty forest itself resounds—

sā rati paṭibhāti man”ti.

that strikes me as so delightful!”