9.
The Discourse on the Seers in the Forest Haunt
255.
At Sāvatthī.
"Once in the past, monks, many sages who were moral and of good character were dwelling in leaf huts in a forest haunt.
Then, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, and Vepacitti, the lord of titans, approached those sages who were moral and of good character.
Then, monks, Vepacitti, the lord of titans, having put on sandals with straps, having hung his sword on his shoulder, with an umbrella being held over him, having entered the hermitage through the main entrance, having treated those sages who were moral and of good character as not within arm's reach, passed by.
Then, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, having removed his sandals with straps, having given his sword to others, having put aside his umbrella, having entered the hermitage through the door itself, stood downwind from those sages who were moral and of good character, with joined palms, paying homage."
Then, monks, those sages who were moral and of good character addressed Sakka, the lord of the gods, in verse -
Issuing from the body, goes with the wind;
Step back from here, Thousand-eyed One,
The odour of the sages is impure, king of gods."
Issuing from the body, let it go with the wind,
Like a garland of variegated flowers on the head;
We long for this odour, venerable sirs,
For the gods here do not perceive it as repulsive."