[500] Bhikkhus, formerly a certain bhikkhu dwelt on a slope of the Himavanta, in a certain forest grove. Not far from that forest grove, bhikkhus, there was a great low-lying marsh. Then, bhikkhus, a great flock of birds, having fed in that marsh by day, came in the evening to that forest grove to roost. Then, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu, harassed by the noise of that flock of birds, approached me; having approached, he paid homage to me and sat down to one side. As he sat to one side, bhikkhus, I said this to that bhikkhu: "I hope, bhikkhu, you are bearing up; I hope you are keeping going; I hope you have come the journey with little fatigue. And from where, bhikkhu, do you come?"
"It is bearable, Blessed One; I am keeping going, Blessed One; and I have come the journey, venerable sir, with little fatigue. There is, venerable sir, a great forest grove on a slope of the Himavanta; not far from that forest grove, venerable sir, there is a great low-lying marsh; and a great flock of birds, having fed in that marsh by day, comes in the evening to that forest grove to roost. From there, Blessed One, do I come, harassed by the noise of that flock of birds."
"But do you wish, bhikkhu, that that flock of birds should not come?"
"I do wish, venerable sir, that that flock of birds should not come."
"Then, bhikkhu, go there, plunge into that forest grove, and in the first watch of the night proclaim aloud three times: 'Hear me, honorable birds, as many as have taken up residence in this forest grove! I have need of a feather; let each one of you honorable ones give me a feather.' In the middle watch of the night … in the last watch of the night proclaim aloud three times: 'Hear me, honorable birds, as many as have taken up residence in this forest grove! I have need of a feather; let each one of you honorable ones give me a feather.'"
Then, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu went there, plunged into that forest grove, and in the first watch of the night proclaimed aloud three times: "Hear me, honorable birds, as many as have taken up residence in this forest grove! I have need of a feather; let each one of you honorable ones give me a feather." In the middle watch of the night … in the last watch of the night he proclaimed aloud three times: "Hear me, honorable birds, as many as have taken up residence in this forest grove! I have need of a feather; let each one of you honorable ones give me a feather."
Then, bhikkhus, that flock of birds, [thinking,] "The bhikkhu begs a feather; the bhikkhu has need of a feather," departed from that forest grove; and having thus departed, it did not come back again.
Bhikkhus, if even to those creatures gone to the animal realm begging is disagreeable and soliciting (viññatti) is disagreeable, how much more so to human beings?
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.