[219] Thereupon, venerable sir, the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra was pleased, delighted, filled with rapture (pīti) and gladness, having heard the eight genuine praises (yathābhucca-vaṇṇā) of the Blessed One. Then, venerable sir, the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra, having fashioned a solid bodily form (oḷārikaṃ attabhāvaṃ), having assumed the appearance of a youth, as Pañcasikha, appeared to the gods of Tāvatiṃsa. Rising into the air, he sat cross-legged in the sky, in the open air. Just as, venerable sir, a strong man might sit cross-legged upon a well-spread couch or upon a level piece of ground, even so, venerable sir, the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra, having risen into the air and seated himself cross-legged in the sky, in the open air, addressed the gods of Tāvatiṃsa: "What do the good gods of Tāvatiṃsa think of this—for how long indeed has that Blessed One been one of great wisdom?
"Once upon a time, sirs, there was a king named Disampati. King Disampati had a brahmin named Govinda as his royal chaplain (purohita). King Disampati had a son, a prince named Reṇu. The brahmin Govinda had a son, a young brahmin (māṇava) named Jotipāla. Thus Prince Reṇu, the young brahmin Jotipāla, and six other khattiyas—these eight were companions. Then, sirs, with the passing of days and nights, the brahmin Govinda died. When the brahmin Govinda had died, King Disampati lamented: 'Alas, sirs! At the very time when we, having wholly relinquished all our duties to the brahmin Govinda, were amusing ourselves, endowed and provided with the five strands of sensual pleasure (kāmaguṇa), at that very time the brahmin Govinda has died!'
"When this was said, sirs, Prince Reṇu said to King Disampati: 'Sire, do not lament too grievously over the death of the brahmin Govinda. There is, sire, the brahmin Govinda's son, a young brahmin named Jotipāla, who is wiser than his father and more capable than his father of discerning what is advantageous. Whatever matters his father administered, those matters too should be administered by the young brahmin Jotipāla.' 'Is that so, my boy?' 'It is so, sire.'
"Then, sirs, King Disampati addressed a certain man: 'Come, my good man, go to the young brahmin named Jotipāla, and having approached, say this to the young brahmin Jotipāla: "May good fortune attend the worthy young brahmin Jotipāla! King Disampati summons the worthy young brahmin Jotipāla; King Disampati desires to see the worthy young brahmin Jotipāla."' 'Yes, sire,' that man replied to King Disampati; and he went to the young brahmin Jotipāla, and having approached, said this to the young brahmin Jotipāla: 'May good fortune attend the worthy young brahmin Jotipāla! King Disampati summons the worthy young brahmin Jotipāla; King Disampati desires to see the worthy young brahmin Jotipāla.'
"'Yes, sir,' the young brahmin Jotipāla replied to that man; and he went to King Disampati, and having approached, he exchanged greetings with King Disampati, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he sat down to one side. To the young brahmin Jotipāla seated to one side, sirs, King Disampati said this: 'Let the worthy young brahmin Jotipāla administer our affairs; let not the worthy young brahmin Jotipāla refuse the administration. I shall establish you in your father's position; I shall anoint you in the office of Govinda.' 'Yes, sire,' the young brahmin Jotipāla replied to King Disampati.
"Then, sirs, King Disampati anointed the young brahmin Jotipāla in the office of Govinda and established him in his father's position. The young brahmin Jotipāla, anointed in the office of Govinda and established in his father's position, administered those matters which his father had administered, and did not administer those matters which his father had not administered; he accomplished those works which his father had accomplished, and did not accomplish those works which his father had not accomplished. People spoke of him thus: 'A Govinda indeed, sirs, is the brahmin! A Mahāgovinda (Great Govinda) indeed, sirs, is the brahmin!' In this way, sirs, by this means the designation 'Mahāgovinda' arose for the young brahmin Jotipāla."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.