So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time one of the mendicants was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

Now at that time that mendicant, during their day’s meditation, was thinking bad, unskillful thoughts to do with the domestic life. Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu divāvihāragato pāpake akusale vitakke vitakketi gehanissite. The deity haunting that forest had sympathy for that mendicant, and wanted what’s best for them. So they approached that mendicant wanting to stir them up, and addressed them in verse: Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tassa bhikkhuno anukampikā atthakāmā taṁ bhikkhuṁ saṁvejetukāmā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

“You entered the woods desiring seclusion, “Vivekakāmosi vanaṁ paviṭṭho, yet your mind strays to outward things. Atha te mano niccharatī bahiddhā; As a person, dispel the desire for people; Jano janasmiṁ vinayassu chandaṁ, then you’ll be happy, free of greed. Tato sukhī hohisi vītarāgo.

Give up discontent; be mindful; Aratiṁ pajahāsi sato, let us remind you to be mindful. Bhavāsi sataṁ taṁ sārayāmase; The dusty abyss is so hard to cross; Pātālarajo hi duttaro, don’t let sensual dust drag you down. Mā taṁ kāmarajo avāhari.

Just as a bird strewn with dirt Sakuṇo yathā paṁsukunthito, sheds that clingy dust with a shake; Vidhunaṁ pātayati sitaṁ rajaṁ; so too, an energetic, mindful mendicant Evaṁ bhikkhu padhānavā satimā, sheds that clingy dust with a shake.” Vidhunaṁ pātayati sitaṁ rajan”ti.

Impelled by that deity, that mendicant was struck with a sense of urgency. Atha kho so bhikkhu tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.