Dighanikaya 31.242

31.242

Evaṃ me sutanti siṅgālasuttaṃ. Tatrāyamanuttānapadavaṇṇanā – veḷuvane kalandakanivāpeti veḷuvananti tassa uyyānassa nāmaṃ. Taṃ kira veḷūhi parikkhittaṃ ahosi aṭṭhārasahatthena ca pākārena gopuraṭṭālakayuttaṃ nīlobhāsaṃ manoramaṃ, tena veḷuvananti vuccati. Kalandakānañcettha nivāpaṃ adaṃsu, tena kalandakanivāpoti vuccati.

“Thus have I heard” introduces the Siṅgāla Sutta. Herein, this is the explanation of the terms whose meaning is not plain: “in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels' Feeding Ground” (veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe): “Bamboo Grove” is the name of that park. It is said that it was encircled by bamboo, and enclosed by an eighteen-cubit wall equipped with gateway towers, radiant with green, and charming; therefore it is called the Bamboo Grove. And food was given to squirrels there; therefore it is called the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.