Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c10.182

v1.c10.182

It is said³ that on fast-days Ekuddāna, alone in the forest, sounded the call for the deities of the forest to attend the preaching of the Law, and uttered his stanza, whereupon the deities made loud applause. One fast-day two monks, versed in the Tipiṭaka, visited Ekuddāna with a retinue of five hundred each. Seeing them, Ekuddāna’s heart was glad and he said: "Today we will listen to the Law." On being asked for an explanation, he described how, when the Dhamma was expounded, the forest grove was filled with the applause of devas. Thereupon one of the Elders recited the Dhamma and the other expounded it, but there was no sound. In order to dispel their doubts, Ekuddāna took his seat and pronounced his one stanza. The sound of the plaudits of the devas filled the forest. The Elders were greatly offended on the conduct of the devas and complained to the Buddha. The Buddha explained to them that the important thing was not the amount of knowledge but the quality of the understanding.