Then, with the passing of seven days, after emerging from that concentration, the Blessed One went from the root of the Goatherd’s Banyan tree to the Mucalinda (tree) and sat at the root of the Mucalinda tree for seven days in one session, sensitive to the bliss of release.

And on that occasion a great, out-of-season storm-cloud rose up,

with seven days of rainy weather, cold winds, & intense darkness.

Then Muccalinda the nāga king — leaving his dwelling place and encircling the Blessed One’s body seven times with his coils — stood with his great hood spread over the Blessed One, (thinking,)

“Don’t let the Blessed One be disturbed by cold. Don’t let the Blessed One be disturbed by heat. Don’t let the Blessed One be disturbed by the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, & creeping things.”

Then, with the passing of seven days, Muccalinda the nāga king, realizing that the sky had cleared and was free of clouds, unraveled his coils from the body of the Blessed One, abandoned his own appearance and, assuming the appearance of a young man, stood in front of the Blessed One with hands before his heart, paying homage.

Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:

“Blissful is solitude

for one who’s content,

who has heard the Dhamma,

who sees.

Blissful is non-affliction

with regard for the world,

restraint for living beings.

Blissful is dispassion

with regard for the world,

the overcoming of sensuality.

But the subduing of the conceit “I am”

That is truly

the ultimate bliss.”

The Discussion of the Mucalinda (Tree) is finished.