16. +ACI-Atha te... manussasaddo viya suyyati, jaanissaama nan ti
saddaanusaarena gantvaa ta.m purisa.m disvaa 'yakkho bhavissatii'ti
bhiitaa sare sannayhi.msu.+ACI- +AFs-J.iv,160+AF0-
YP: +ACI-Thereupon, they... 'like human voices is heard, we shall know
it', went by following the voice, saw that man and, (being)
frightened, arranged the (bows and) arrows, '(he) will become a
monster'.+ACI-
N: I would like to just add: thinking, '(he) will become a yakkha'.
+ACo- +ACo- +ACo- +ACo-
I think the use of +ACI-bhavissati+ACI- here is actually an instance of the
well-known idiomatic use of the future as an expression of uncertainty,
confusion or amazement relating to the present +AH4- +ACI-he might be / he could
be+ACI-. It is not that the man will become a yakkha, but that they think he
might be one already +ACE- A similar occurence is found in the Dona-sutta where
a brahmin is puzzled as to the Buddha's identity.