[81] Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, while inspecting the works in Rājagaha, approached the keeper of the timber store; having approached, he said this to the keeper of the timber store: "I say, good man, that timber reserved for the king, set aside for the repair of the city and kept for use in time of emergency — where is that timber?"
"Master, that timber has been given by His Majesty to master Dhaniya, the potter's son."
Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, was displeased, thinking: "How indeed could His Majesty give the king's reserved timber, set aside for the repair of the city and kept for use in time of emergency, to Dhaniya the potter's son?"
Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, approached King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha; having approached, he said this to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha: "Is it true, sire, that the king's reserved timber, set aside for the repair of the city and kept for use in time of emergency, has been given by Your Majesty to Dhaniya the potter's son?"
"Who says so?"
"The keeper of the timber store, sire."
"Well then, brahmin, have the keeper of the timber store brought here."
Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, had the keeper of the timber store brought in bonds.
[Editorial footnotes in the Siam Raṭṭha edition: ¹ The Yu., M., and Rā. editions read *devagahadārūni*. ² In those editions there is a divergence; for there it reads thus: "Then it occurred to the keeper of the timber store: 'These ascetics, sons of the Sakyan …' — to say 'it has been given.' Then the keeper of the timber store said this to the venerable Dhaniya, the potter's son: 'Have it removed, venerable sir.'"]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.