Dhammapada 3.6.p2

3.6.p2

Sāvatthiyaṃ kira pañcasatā bhikkhū satthu santike yāva arahattā kammaṭṭhānaṃ gahetvā, ‘‘samaṇadhammaṃ karissāmā’’ti yojanasatamaggaṃ gantvā ekaṃ mahāvāsagāmaṃ agamaṃsu. Atha te manussā disvā paññattāsane nisīdāpetvā paṇītehi yāgubhattādīhi parivisitvā, ‘‘kahaṃ, bhante, gacchathā’’ti pucchitvā, ‘‘yathāphāsukaṭṭhāna’’nti vutte, ‘‘bhante, imaṃ temāsaṃ idheva vasatha, mayampi tumhākaṃ santike saraṇesu patiṭṭhāya pañca sīlāni rakkhissāmā’’ti yācitvā tesaṃ adhivāsanaṃ viditvā, ‘‘avidūre ṭhāne mahanto vanasaṇḍo atthi, ettha vasatha, bhante’’ti vatvā uyyojesuṃ. Bhikkhū taṃ vanasaṇḍaṃ pavisiṃsu. Tasmiṃ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā ‘‘sīlavanto, ayyā, imaṃ vanasaṇḍaṃ anuppattā, ayuttaṃ kho pana asmākaṃ ayyesu idha vasantesu puttadāre gahetvā rukkhe abhiruyha vasitu’’nti rukkhato otaritvā bhūmiyaṃ nisīditvā cintayiṃsu, ‘‘ayyā, imasmiṃ ṭhāne ajjekarattiṃ vasitvā addhā sve gamissantī’’ti. Bhikkhūpi punadivase antogāme piṇḍāya caritvā puna tameva vanasaṇḍaṃ āgamiṃsu. Devatā ‘‘bhikkhusaṅgho svātanāya kenaci nimantito bhavissati, tasmā punāgacchati, ajja gamanaṃ na bhavissati, sve gamissati maññe’’ti iminā upāyena aḍḍhamāsamattaṃ bhūmiyameva acchiṃsu.

At Sāvatthi, we are told, five hundred monks obtained from the Teacher a Subject of Meditation leading to Arahatship, and with the intention of devoting themselves to the practice of meditation, went a hundred leagues to a large village. When the inhabitants of the village saw them, they provided them with seats, served them with choice rice-porridge and other kinds of food, and asked them, "Reverend Sirs, where are you going?" The monks replied, "To some pleasant place." Then said the inhabitants of the village, "Reverend Sirs,

reside right here during these three months. Under your direction we will abide steadfast in the Refuges and will keep the Precepts.” The villagers, having obtained the consent of the monks, said, “Reverend Sirs, there is a large forest-grove not far from this place. Take up your residence there.” So saying, the villagers dismissed the monks, and the monks entered the forest.

Thereupon virtuous spirits dwelling in that forest-grove thought, “A company of monks have come to this forest-grove. If, however, these monks dwell in this forest-grove, it will be improper for us longer to take son and wife, climb the trees, and live here.” Accordingly they came down from the trees, seated themselves on the ground, and reflected, “If the monks remain in this place to-night, they will surely leave to-morrow morning.” But on the following day also the monks, after making their rounds for alms in the village, returned again to that same forest-grove. Thereupon the spirits thought to themselves, “Someone must have invited the company of monks for to-morrow, and for this reason they have returned. To-day they will not depart, but to-morrow they will surely depart.” Reasoning in this way, they sat for a fortnight on the ground.