[82] Now at that time Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, were building a city at Pāṭaligāma to ward off the Vajjīs. And at that time many deities, in their thousands, were taking possession of sites in Pāṭaligāma. In whatever quarter deities of great power took possession of sites, there the minds (citta) of kings and royal chief ministers of great power inclined to build their residences; in whatever quarter deities of middling rank took possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of middling rank inclined to build their residences; in whatever quarter deities of low rank took possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of low rank inclined to build their residences. The Blessed One, with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human, saw those deities, in their thousands, taking possession of sites in Pāṭaligāma.
Then the Blessed One, having risen at the time of dawn, addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Ānanda, who is it that is building a city at Pāṭaligāma?"
"Venerable sir, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, are building a city at Pāṭaligāma to ward off the Vajjīs."
"Ānanda, it is just as if Sakka had taken counsel with the Tāvatiṃsa gods: even so, Ānanda, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, are building a city at Pāṭaligāma to ward off the Vajjīs. Here, Ānanda, with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human, I saw many deities, in their thousands, taking possession of sites in Pāṭaligāma. In whatever quarter deities of great power took possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of great power inclined to build their residences; in whatever quarter deities of middling rank took possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of middling rank inclined to build their residences; in whatever quarter deities of low rank took possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of low rank inclined to build their residences. As far, Ānanda, as the Ariyan sphere extends, as far as the path of commerce extends, this will be the chief city: Pāṭaliputta, where the merchandise-bundles are broken open. But for Pāṭaliputta, Ānanda, there will be three dangers: from fire, from water, or from the breaking of mutual concord."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.