2-Mucalindavaggo-10

Thus I heard:
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Anupiyà, in the Mango Wood.

Then at that time venerable Bhaddiya, Kàëigodhà's son, having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place, was frequently uttering this exclamation: ßAh, happiness! Ah, happiness!û

Many monks, heard that when venerable Bhaddiya, Kàëigodhà's son, had gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place, was frequently uttering this exclamation: ßAh, happiness! Ah, happiness!û And after hearing (this), it occured to them: ßUndoubtedly, friends, venerable Bhaddiya, Kàëigodhà's son, has no great delight living the spiritual life, and remembering the royal happiness he had formerly in the home life, having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place, he is frequently uttering this exclamation: `Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!' û

Then many monks went to the Gracious One, and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, they sat down on one side. While sat on one side, those monks said this to the Gracious One: ßVenerable Bhaddiya, reverend Sir, Kàëigodhà's son, having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place, is frequently uttering this exclamation: `Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!' Undoubtedly, reverend Sir, venerable Bhaddiya, Kàëigodhà's son, has no great delight living the spiritual life, and remembering the royal happiness he had formerly in the home life, having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place, he is frequently uttering this exclamation: `Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!' û

Then the Gracious One addressed a certain monk, (saying): ßPlease go, monk, and with my word address the monk Bhaddiya, (saying): `The Teacher, friend Bhaddiya, calls you.' û

ßYes, reverend Sir,û said that monk, and after replying to the Gracious One, he went to venerable Bhaddiya, Kàëigodhà's son, and after going, he said this to venerable Bhaddiya, Kàëigodhà's son: ßThe Teacher, friend Bhaddiya, calls you.û

ßYes, friend,û said venerable Bhaddiya, Kàëigodhà's son, and after replying to that monk, he went to the Gracious One, after going and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one side. While sat on one side the Gracious One said this to venerable Bhaddiya, Kàëigodhà's son: ßIs it true, as it seems, Bhaddiya, that you, having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place, frequently utter this exclamation: `Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!' ?û

ßYes, reverend Sir.û: ßBut, Bhaddiya, seeing what reason did you, having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place, frequently utter this exclamation: `Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!' ?û

ßFormerly, reverend Sir, while I was in the home life ruling the country, the inside of the inner quarters was well appointed with guards, and the outside of the inner quarters was well appointed with guards, and inside the city it was well appointed with guards, and outside the city it was well appointed with guards, and inside the country it was well appointed with guards, and outside the country it was well appointed with guards. Although, reverend Sir, I was being guarded and protected in this way, I lived fearful, anxious, distrustful, and afraid.

But at present, reverend Sir, having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place, I live solitary, fearless, unanxious, trusting, unafraid, unconcerned, not horrified, quite secure, with a mind that has become (confident) like a (free)-born animal. It is seeing this reason, reverend Sir, that I, having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place, am frequently uttering this exclamation: `Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!' û

Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance: