A forest deity approaches a mendicant in verse on midday, encouraging seclusion, mindfulness, and freedom from sensual desire.

SN 9.12 Midday

Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe. Atha kho tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tassa bhikkhuno santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Ṭhite majjhanhike kāle,
sannisīvesu pakkhisu;
Saṇateva brahāraññaṁ,
taṁ bhayaṁ paṭibhāti maṁ.

Ṭhite majjhanhike kāle,
sannisīvesu pakkhisu;
Saṇateva brahāraññaṁ,
rati paṭibhāti man”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

At one time one of the mendicants was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

Atha kho tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tassa bhikkhuno santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

The deity haunting that forest approached that mendicant and spoke this verse in their presence:

“Ṭhite majjhanhike kāle,

“In the still of high noon,

sannisīvesu pakkhisu;

when the birds have settled down,

Saṇateva brahāraññaṁ,

the mighty forest itself resounds—

taṁ bhayaṁ paṭibhāti maṁ.

that strikes me as so scary!”

Ṭhite majjhanhike kāle,

“In the still of high noon,

sannisīvesu pakkhisu;

when the birds have settled down,

Saṇateva brahāraññaṁ,

the mighty forest itself resounds—

rati paṭibhāti man”ti.

that strikes me as so delightful!”

Qualities:

Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026