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

Now at that time the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Builder was doing some building work in that jungle thicket. He saw the Buddha sitting down cross-legged at the root of a certain sal tree, his body set straight, and mindfulness established in his presence.

Seeing this, it occurred to him, “I enjoy doing this building work here in the jungle. I wonder what the ascetic Gotama enjoys doing?”

Then Bhāradvāja the Builder went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

“What kind of work do you do 
as a mendicant in the sal jungle? 
How do you find enjoyment 
alone in the wilderness, Gotama?”

“There’s nothing I need to do in the jungle; 
my jungle’s cut down at the root, it’s withered away. 
With jungle cleared and free of thorns, 
I enjoy being alone in the jungle, 
having given up discontent.”

When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Builder said to the Buddha, “Excellent, Mister Gotama … From this day forth, may Mister Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”