1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.At one time one of the monks was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

1.2Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu aññatarasmiṁ kule ativelaṁ ajjhogāḷhappatto viharati.Now at that time that monk had become too closely involved in the affairs of a certain family.1.3Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tassa bhikkhuno anukampikā atthakāmā taṁ bhikkhuṁ saṁvejetukāmā yā tasmiṁ kule kulagharaṇī, tassā vaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:The deity haunting that forest had sympathy for that monk, wanting what’s best for him. So, wanting to stir him up, they manifested in the appearance of the mistress of that family, approached the monk, and addressed him in verse:

2.1“Nadītīresu saṇṭhāne,“At river banks and guest houses,2.2sabhāsu rathiyāsu ca;hotels and highways,¹2.3Janā saṅgamma mantenti,people gather to gossip about2.4mañca tañca kimantaran”ti.what’s going on between you and me.”

3.1“Bahūhi saddā paccūhā,“There are many sounds echoing²3.2khamitabbā tapassinā;that a fervent ascetic must endure.3.3Na tena maṅku hotabbaṁ,They ought not be dismayed by that,3.4na hi tena kilissati.for that’s not what defiles you.

4.1Yo ca saddaparittāsī,If you’re startled by every little sound,4.2vane vātamigo yathā;like a wind-deer in the wood,³4.3Lahucittoti taṁ āhu,they’ll call you ‘flighty minded’;4.4nāssa sampajjate vatan”ti.and your practice won’t succeed.”