Udāna 2: Mucalindavaggo
The Chapter (including the Discourse) about Mucalinda
1: The Discourse about Mucalinda
Thus I heard:
at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Uruvelā, on the bank of the river Nerañjarā, at the root of the Mucalinda (tree), in the first (period) after attaining Awakening.
Then at that time the Fortunate One was sitting in one cross-legged posture for seven days experiencing the happiness of freedom. Then at that time a great cloud arose out of season, (bringing) seven days of rainy weather, cold winds, and overcast days.
Then the Nāga King Mucalinda, after leaving his domicile, and surrounding the Fortunate One’s body seven times with his coils, stood with his great hood stretched out above his head, (thinking): “May the Fortunate One not be cold, may the Fortunate One not be hot, may the Fortunate One not be affected by gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, the heat (of the sun), and serpents.”
Then with the passing of those seven days, the Fortunate One arose from that concentration. Then the Nāga King Mucalinda, having understood that the sky was now clear without a cloud, having unravelled his coils from the Fortunate One’s body, and after withdrawing his own form, and creating the appearance of a young brāhmaṇa, stood in front of the Fortunate One, revering the Fortunate One with raised hands.
Then the Fortunate One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:
“There is happiness and detachment for the one who is satisfied,
Who has heard the Dhamma, and who sees,
There is happiness for he who is free from ill-will in the world,
Who is restrained towards breathing beings.
The state of dispassion in the world is happiness, the complete transcending of sense desires,
(But) for he who has removed the conceit ‘I am’ - this is indeed the highest happiness.”