[594] Then Devadatta, thinking, "The Blessed One does not allow these five points," glad and elated, rose from his seat together with his following, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side towards him, and departed. Then Devadatta, together with his following,¹ entered Rājagaha and won the people over by means of the five points, saying: "Friends, we approached the ascetic Gotama and requested five points: 'Venerable sir, the Blessed One in many ways speaks in praise of one who is of few wishes, contented, given to effacement, scrupulous in austerity, inspiring, given to the reduction (of defilements), and of aroused energy (vīriya). Venerable sir, these five points conduce in many ways to fewness of wishes, to contentment, to effacement, to scrupulous austerity, to what is inspiring, to the reduction (of defilements), and to the arousing of energy. It would be good, venerable sir, if the bhikkhus were forest dwellers for as long as life lasts — whoever should resort to the vicinity of a village, fault would touch him; if they were almsfood eaters for as long as life lasts — whoever should accept an invitation, fault would touch him; if they were rag-robe wearers for as long as life lasts — whoever should accept a robe from a householder, fault would touch him; if they were dwellers at the root of a tree for as long as life lasts — whoever should go to a covered dwelling, fault would touch him; if they should not eat fish and meat for as long as life lasts — whoever should eat fish and meat, fault would touch him.' These points the ascetic Gotama does not allow. But we undertake these five points and practise in accordance with them."
¹ [Editorial note in the Siam Raṭṭha edition: this reading (sapariso, "together with his following") does not occur in the European and Burmese editions.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.