[216] "Then, venerable sir, the gods of the Tāvatiṃsa sat down each on his own seat, saying, 'We shall find out what this light is; whatever its outcome will be, only when we have realized it shall we go to it.' The four great kings likewise sat down each on his own seat, saying, 'We shall find out what this light is; whatever its outcome will be, only when we have realized it shall we go to it.' Hearing this, the gods of the Tāvatiṃsa reached unanimity: 'We shall find out what this light is; whatever its outcome will be, only when we have realized it shall we go to it.'
"Venerable sir, when the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra appears to the gods of the Tāvatiṃsa, he appears only after conjuring up a solid life-form; for the natural appearance of a Brahmā, venerable sir, cannot be encompassed within the visual range of the gods of the Tāvatiṃsa. When the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra appears to the gods of the Tāvatiṃsa, he outshines the other gods in beauty and in glory. Just as, venerable sir, a golden figure outshines the human figure, even so, venerable sir, when the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra appears to the gods of the Tāvatiṃsa, he outshines the other gods in beauty and in glory. When the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra appears to the gods of the Tāvatiṃsa, no god in that assembly salutes him, or rises up for him, or invites him to a seat. All of them sit silently upon their couches with palms joined in reverence, thinking, 'Now the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra will sit upon the couch of whichever god he wishes.' And the god upon whose couch the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra sits, venerable sir, obtains a lofty gain of delight, that god obtains a lofty gain of gladness. Just as, venerable sir, a khattiya king, anointed on the head, newly anointed with kingship, obtains a lofty gain of delight and obtains a lofty gain of gladness, even so, venerable sir, the god upon whose couch the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra sits obtains a lofty gain of delight, that god obtains a lofty gain of gladness.
"Then, venerable sir, the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra, having known the satisfaction of the gods of the Tāvatiṃsa, while remaining invisible rejoiced in these verses:"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.