This is how I heard. At one time the Blessed One was staying in the city of Andhakavinda in the Magadha province. At that time the Blessed One was sitting out in the open in the thick darkness of the night in the drizzling rain. Then, when the night was ending, brahma Sahampati, of stunning beauty, lighting the entire city of Andhakavinda, went to the Blessed One, paid homage to the Blessed One, and stood to one side. Standing to one side, brahma Sahampati recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“A monk should stay in faraway forest huts and practice the Dhamma with the sole intention of getting released from the ties of Saṁsāra. But if he does not wish to live in faraway forest huts, he should stay mindfully among the community of noble monks, guarding himself.”
“He should guard his senses while walking for alms from house to house. He should live wisely and mindfully. He should stay in faraway forest huts, wishing to attain Nibbāna, the freedom from fear of Saṁsāra.”
“There are frightening things in forest monasteries and those places inhabited by serpents. Lightning flashes and the rain clouds thunder. In the thick darkness of the night, there a monk is sitting fearlessly, without hair-standing-on-end.”
“I actually saw this fact myself. I did not learn this from anyone else. Within a single word of Dhamma there lives a thousand Liberated Ones defeating Māra.”
“In this city of Andhakavinda there are more than five hundred disciples practicing the path of enlightenment. A hundred and ten, all these trainees have entered the stream of Nibbāna, never returning to the plane of misery again.”
“I think the remaining people also have made much merit. I couldn’t count them. I am afraid of telling lies.”
