Apology to the Hornets
Collected Works
One day, when Bhagavan was climbing the Hill, he knocked against a hornet's nest[1] and was attacked and very badly stung in the leg and thigh. He felt remorse for having disturbed them. Asked why he met with such harsh treatment for what happened accidentally, he replied:
When I was stung by hornets in revenge Upon the leg until it was inflamed, Although it was by chance I stepped upon Their nest, constructed in a leafy bush; What kind of mind is his if he does not At least repent for doing such a wrong ?
— reproduced from the 1979, 5th edition
of 'Collected Works', ed.Arthur Osborne
of 'Collected Works', ed.Arthur Osborne
[1] the story is recounted in more detail in the 02 May 1946 entry of Day by Day