At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthiyaṁ.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, several seers who were ethical, of good character, settled in leaf huts in a wilderness region. “Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā araññāyatane paṇṇakuṭīsu sammanti.

Then Sakka, lord of gods, and Vepacitti, lord of titans, went to those seers. Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko ca devānamindo vepacitti ca asurindo yena te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu. Vepacitti put on his lined sandals, strapped on his sword, and, carrying a sunshade, entered the hermitage through the main gate. He walked right past those seers, keeping them at arm’s length. Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo paṭaliyo upāhanā ārohitvā khaggaṁ olaggetvā chattena dhāriyamānena aggadvārena assamaṁ pavisitvā te isayo sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme apabyāmato karitvā atikkami.

Sakka took off his lined sandals, gave his sword to others, and, putting down his sunshade, entered the hermitage through the same gate. He stood downwind of those seers, revering them with joined palms. Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo paṭaliyo upāhanā orohitvā khaggaṁ aññesaṁ datvā chattaṁ apanāmetvā dvāreneva assamaṁ pavisitvā te isayo sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme anuvātaṁ pañjaliko namassamāno aṭṭhāsi.

Then those seers addressed Sakka in verse: Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:

‘When seers have been long initiated, ‘Gandho isīnaṁ ciradikkhitānaṁ, the odor of their bodies goes with the gale. Kāyā cuto gacchati mālutena; You’d better leave, O thousand-eyed! Ito paṭikkamma sahassanetta, The odor of the seers is unclean, king of gods.’ Gandho isīnaṁ asuci devarājā’ti.

‘When seers have been long initiated, ‘Gandho isīnaṁ ciradikkhitānaṁ, let the odor of their bodies go with the gale. Kāyā cuto gacchatu mālutena; We yearn for this odor, sirs, Sucitrapupphaṁ sirasmiṁva mālaṁ, like a colorful crown of flowers. Gandhaṁ etaṁ paṭikaṅkhāma bhante; The gods don’t see it as repulsive.’” Na hettha devā paṭikūlasaññino’”ti.