SN 9.8

Kulagharaṇīsutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe. Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu aññatarasmiṁ kule ativelaṁ ajjhogāḷhappatto viharati. 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:

The Mistress of the House

At 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 sympathy 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:

“Nadītīresu saṇṭhāne, sabhāsu rathiyāsu ca; Janā saṅgamma mantenti, mañca tañca kimantaran”ti.

“At river banks and guest houses, hotels and highways, people gather to gossip about what’s going on between you and me.”

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

“There are many sounds echoing that a fervent ascetic must endure. They ought not be dismayed by that, for that’s not what defiles you.

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

If 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.”