Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.1403

v2.c31.1403

1. Mahādatta.—A thera of Ariyakoṭiya. He was once sitting at the foot of a tree to meditate, but because of the great power of his virtue, the children of the tree-deity grew restless, and the deity tried to frighten him away but failed. She then appeared before the thera in disguise and told him of her trouble. He asked her to take her family somewhere else for that day only as he did not wish it to be thought that she had scared him away.¹