1.1Ekaṁ 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.1.2Atha 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:

2.1“Ṭhite majjhanhike kāle,“In the still of high noon,¹2.2sannisīvesu pakkhisu;when the birds have settled down,2.3Saṇateva brahāraññaṁ,the mighty forest itself resounds—2.4taṁ bhayaṁ paṭibhāti maṁ.that strikes me as so scary!”

3.1Ṭhite majjhanhike kāle,“In the still of high noon,3.2sannisīvesu pakkhisu;when the birds have settled down,3.3Saṇateva brahāraññaṁ,the mighty forest itself resounds—3.4sā rati paṭibhāti man”ti.that strikes me as so delightful!”