[31] When this was said, the wanderer Nigrodha said to the Blessed One: "A transgression (accaya) overcame me, venerable sir—so foolish, so muddled, so unskillful was I—in that I spoke thus of the Blessed One. Venerable sir, may the Blessed One accept my transgression as a transgression, for the sake of restraint in the future."
"Truly, Nigrodha, a transgression overcame you—so foolish, so muddled, so unskillful were you—in that you spoke thus of me. But since, Nigrodha, having seen the transgression as a transgression, you make amends in accordance with the Dhamma, we accept it from you. For this, Nigrodha, is growth in the discipline of the Noble One: that one who, having seen a transgression as a transgression, makes amends in accordance with the Dhamma and undertakes restraint in the future.
"But I, Nigrodha, say this: Let a wise person come—not fraudulent, not deceitful, of upright nature. I instruct him, I teach him the Dhamma. Practicing as instructed, he will—in seven years—dwell having realized for himself, by direct knowledge (abhiññā), in this very life, that unsurpassed culmination of the holy life (brahmacariya) for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, and having entered upon it. Let alone seven years, Nigrodha. Let a wise person come—not fraudulent, not deceitful, of upright nature. I instruct him, I teach him the Dhamma. Practicing as instructed, he will—in six years—dwell having realized for himself, by direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed culmination of the holy life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, and having entered upon it. … Five years. … Four years. … Three years. … Two years. … One year. Let alone one year, Nigrodha. Let a wise person come—not fraudulent, not deceitful, of upright nature. I instruct him, I teach him the Dhamma. Practicing as instructed, he will—in seven months—dwell having realized for himself, by direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed culmination of the holy life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, and having entered upon it. Let alone seven months, Nigrodha. … Six months. … Five months. … Four months. … Three months. … Two months. … One month. … Half a month. Let alone half a month, Nigrodha. Let a wise person come—not fraudulent, not deceitful, of upright nature. I instruct him, I teach him the Dhamma. Practicing as instructed, he will—in seven days—dwell having realized for himself, by direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed culmination of the holy life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, and having entered upon it.
"It may be, Nigrodha, that you think: 'The ascetic Gotama speaks thus out of desire for pupils.' But it should not be seen thus: let him who is your teacher remain your teacher. It may be, Nigrodha, that you think: 'The ascetic Gotama speaks thus wishing to make us fall away from our recitation (uddesa).' But it should not be seen thus: let that which is your recitation remain your recitation. It may be, Nigrodha, that you think: 'The ascetic Gotama speaks thus wishing to make us fall away from our livelihood.' But it should not be seen thus: let that which is your livelihood remain your livelihood. It may be, Nigrodha, that you think: 'The ascetic Gotama speaks thus wishing to establish us in those things which are unskillful and reckoned as unskillful among you and your teachers.' But it should not be seen thus: let those things remain unskillful indeed, reckoned as unskillful among you and your teachers. It may be, Nigrodha, that you think: 'The ascetic Gotama speaks thus wishing to draw us away from those things which are skillful and reckoned as skillful among you and your teachers.' But it should not be seen thus: let those things remain skillful indeed, reckoned as skillful among you and your teachers.
"Thus, Nigrodha, I do not speak thus out of desire for pupils; nor do I speak thus wishing to make you fall away from your recitation; nor do I speak thus wishing to make you fall away from your livelihood; nor do I speak thus wishing to establish you in those things which are unskillful and reckoned as unskillful among you and your teachers; nor do I speak thus wishing to draw you away from those things which are reckoned as skillful among you and your teachers.
"There are, Nigrodha, unskillful things not yet abandoned—defiling, leading to renewed existence, fraught with distress, ripening in suffering (dukkha), making for birth, aging, and death (jāti-jarā-maraṇa) in the future—for the abandoning of which I teach the Dhamma. When you practice accordingly, the defiling things will be abandoned in you and the things conducive to purification will increase; and you will dwell having realized for yourselves, by direct knowledge, in this very life, the fullness and abundance of wisdom, and having entered upon it."
When this was said, those wanderers sat silent, dismayed, with shoulders drooping and heads down, brooding, at a loss for words, as if their minds were possessed by Māra.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.