[247] Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Magadhans, in the Indasāla Cave on Mount Vediyaka, to the north of the brahmin village named Ambasaṇḍā, which lies to the east of Rājagaha.
Now on that occasion an eagerness arose in Sakka, lord of the devas, to see the Blessed One. Then it occurred to Sakka, lord of the devas: "Where now is the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, dwelling at present?" Sakka, lord of the devas, saw the Blessed One dwelling among the Magadhans, in the Indasāla Cave on Mount Vediyaka, to the north of the brahmin village named Ambasaṇḍā, which lies to the east of Rājagaha. Having seen him, he addressed the Tāvatiṃsa devas: "Dear sirs, this Blessed One is dwelling among the Magadhans, in the Indasāla Cave on Mount Vediyaka, to the north of the brahmin village named Ambasaṇḍā, which lies to the east of Rājagaha. What if we, dear sirs, were to approach that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, to see him?" "So be it, venerable one," the Tāvatiṃsa devas replied to Sakka, lord of the devas.
Then Sakka, lord of the devas, addressed Pañcasikha, son of the gandhabbas: "Dear Pañcasikha, this Blessed One is dwelling among the Magadhans, in the Indasāla Cave on Mount Vediyaka, to the north of the brahmin village named Ambasaṇḍā, which lies to the east of Rājagaha. What if we, dear Pañcasikha, were to approach that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, to see him?" "So be it, venerable one," Pañcasikha, son of the gandhabbas, replied to Sakka, lord of the devas; and taking his lute of yellow beluva-wood (veḷuvapaṇḍuvīṇā), he came along in attendance upon Sakka, lord of the devas.
Then Sakka, lord of the devas, surrounded by the Tāvatiṃsa devas and preceded by Pañcasikha, son of the gandhabbas — just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm — vanished from among the Tāvatiṃsa devas and reappeared among the Magadhans, on Mount Vediyaka, to the north of the brahmin village named Ambasaṇḍā, which lies to the east of Rājagaha.
Now on that occasion Mount Vediyaka and the brahmin village Ambasaṇḍā became exceedingly radiant, as happens through the divine power of the devas. And indeed, the people in the villages round about spoke thus: "Today Mount Vediyaka must surely be on fire! Today Mount Vediyaka must surely be burning! Today Mount Vediyaka must surely be blazing! Why is it that today Mount Vediyaka and the brahmin village Ambasaṇḍā are so exceedingly radiant?" And they were filled with alarm, their hair standing on end.
Then Sakka, lord of the devas, addressed Pañcasikha, son of the gandhabbas: "Dear Pañcasikha, Tathāgatas are hard for one such as I to approach — meditators, delighting in jhāna, secluded in retreat in the interval thereof. What if you, dear Pañcasikha, were first to win the favour of the Blessed One? When you, dear one, have first won his favour, afterwards we shall approach that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, to see him."
"So be it, venerable one," Pañcasikha, son of the gandhabbas, replied to Sakka, lord of the devas; and taking his lute of yellow beluva-wood, he approached the Indasāla Cave. Having approached, [reckoning:] "At this distance the Blessed One dwells neither too far from me nor too near, and he will hear my sound," he stood at one side. Standing at one side, Pañcasikha, son of the gandhabbas, taking up his lute of yellow beluva-wood, made it resound, and recited these verses connected with the Buddha, connected with the Dhamma, connected with the Saṅgha, connected with the arahants, and connected with sensual pleasure (kāma):
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.