1At one time one of the monks was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

Now at that time that monk had become too closely involved in the affairs of a certain family. The deity haunting that forest had compassion for that monk, wanting what’s best for him. So, wanting to stir him up, they manifested in the appearance of the mistress of that family, approached the monk, and addressed him in verse:

3“On the banks of the rivers and in the guest houses,
in meeting halls and highways,
people come together and gossip:
what’s going on between you and me?”

3“There are lots of annoying sounds
that an austere ascetic must endure.
But they mustn’t be dismayed by that,
for that’s not what defiles you.

4If you’re startled by every little sound,
like a wind-deer in the wood,
they’ll call you ‘flighty minded’;
and your practice won’t succeed.”

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu vihārati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu aññatarasmiṁ kule ativelaṁ ajjhogāḷhappatto vihārati. Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tassa bhikkhuno anukampikā atthakāmā taṁ bhikkhuṁ saṁvejetukāmā yā tasmiṁ kule kulagharaṇī, tassā vaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi: 

2"Nadītīresu saṇṭhāne,
sabhāsu rathiyāsu ca;
Janā saṅgamma mantenti,
mañca tañca kimantaran"ti.

3"Bahūhi saddā paccūhā,
khamitabbā tapassinā;
Na tena maṅku hotabbaṁ,
na hi tena kilissati.

4Yo ca saddaparittāsī,
vane vātamigo yathā;
Lahucittoti taṁ āhu,
nāssa sampajjate vatan"ti.