Dighanikaya 14.38

14.38

Mañjussaroti akharassaro. Vaggussaroti chekanipuṇassaro. Madhurassaroti sātassaro. Pemaniyassaroti pemajanakassaro. Tatridaṃ karavīkānaṃ madhurassaratāya – karavīkasakuṇe kira madhurarasaṃ ambapakkaṃ mukhatuṇḍakena paharitvā paggharitarasaṃ pivitvā pakkhena tālaṃ datvā vikūjamāne catuppadā mattā viya laḷituṃ ārabhanti. Gocarapasutāpi catuppadā mukhagatāni tiṇāni chaḍḍetvā taṃ saddaṃ suṇanti. Vāḷamigā khuddakamige anubandhamānā ukkhittaṃ pādaṃ anikkhipitvāva tiṭṭhanti. Anubaddhamigā ca maraṇabhayaṃ jahitvā tiṭṭhanti. Ākāse pakkhandā pakkhinopi pakkhe pasāretvā taṃ saddaṃ suṇamānāva tiṭṭhanti. Udake macchāpi kaṇṇapaṭalaṃ papphoṭetvā taṃ saddaṃ suṇamānāva tiṭṭhanti. Evaṃ madhurassarā karavīkā.

"Sweet-voiced" (mañjussaro) means having a non-harsh voice. "Clear-voiced" (vaggussaro) means having an articulate and skillful voice. "Melodious-voiced" (madhurassaro) means having an agreeable voice. "Endearing-voiced" (pemaniyassaro) means having a voice that generates love. In this regard, as to the melodious voice of the karavīka birds: when the karavīka bird strikes a sweet, ripe mango with its beak, drinks the dripping juice, flaps its wings, and begins to sing, four-footed animals begin to frolic as though intoxicated. Even four-footed animals intent on grazing drop the grass in their mouths and listen to that sound. Predatory beasts pursuing smaller deer stand still without even setting down a raised foot. And pursued deer stand still, abandoning fear of death. Birds flying in the sky also spread their wings and stand still listening to that sound. Fish in the water also flap their ear-fins and stand still listening to that sound. Such sweet voices do the karavīka birds have.