[6] Bhaggava, on one occasion I was staying right there at Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof (Kūṭāgārasālā). Now at that time the naked ascetic (acela) Pāṭikaputta was residing at Vesālī, and he had attained the foremost of gains and the foremost of fame in the Vajjian village. In an assembly at Vesālī he spoke these words: "The ascetic Gotama is one who professes knowledge (ñāṇavāda), and I too am one who professes knowledge. Now one who professes knowledge ought to display, with another who professes knowledge, a demonstration of psychic power (iddhipāṭihāriya) surpassing the human state (uttarimanussadhamma). Let the ascetic Gotama come half the way, and I too shall go half the way; there both of us could perform a demonstration of psychic power surpassing the human state. If the ascetic Gotama performs one demonstration of psychic power surpassing the human state, I shall perform two; if the ascetic Gotama performs two demonstrations of psychic power surpassing the human state, I shall perform four; if the ascetic Gotama performs four demonstrations of psychic power surpassing the human state, I shall perform eight. Thus, however many demonstrations of psychic power surpassing the human state the ascetic Gotama performs, I shall perform twice that many."
Then, Bhaggava, Sunakkhatta the Licchavi son approached me; having approached and paid homage to me, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Bhaggava, Sunakkhatta the Licchavi son said this to me: "Venerable sir, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is residing at Vesālī, and he has attained the foremost of gains and the foremost of fame in the Vajjian village. In an assembly at Vesālī he speaks these words: 'The ascetic Gotama is one who professes knowledge, and I too am one who professes knowledge. Now one who professes knowledge ought to display, with another who professes knowledge, a demonstration of psychic power surpassing the human state. Let the ascetic Gotama come half the way, and I too shall go half the way; there both of us could perform a demonstration of psychic power surpassing the human state. If the ascetic Gotama performs one demonstration of psychic power surpassing the human state, I shall perform two … however many, I shall perform twice that many, twice that many.'"
When this was said, Bhaggava, I said this to Sunakkhatta the Licchavi son: "Sunakkhatta, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is incapable of coming face to face with me without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that mind (citta), and without relinquishing that view (diṭṭhi). Even if it should occur to him thus: 'Without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that mind, and without relinquishing that view, I might go face to face with the ascetic Gotama,' his head would split apart."
"Venerable sir, let the Blessed One guard that speech! Let the Well-Gone One (Sugata) guard that speech!"
"But why, Sunakkhatta, do you say this to me: 'Venerable sir, let the Blessed One guard that speech; let the Well-Gone One guard that speech'?"
"Venerable sir, this has been categorically asserted by the Blessed One: 'The naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is incapable of coming face to face with me without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that mind, and without relinquishing that view. Even if it should occur to him thus: "Without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that mind, and without relinquishing that view, I might go face to face with the ascetic Gotama," his head would split apart.' But, venerable sir, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta might come face to face with the Blessed One in an altered form; then that would be a falsehood on the Blessed One's part."
"Sunakkhatta, would the Tathāgata utter any speech that goes two ways?"
"But, venerable sir, was the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta known to the Blessed One after encompassing his mind with your own mind—'The naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is incapable of coming face to face with me without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that mind, and without relinquishing that view; even if it should occur to him thus: "Without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that mind, and without relinquishing that view, I might go face to face with the ascetic Gotama," his head would split apart'—or did deities report this matter to the Blessed One: 'Venerable sir, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is incapable, without abandoning that speech … his head would split apart'?"
"Sunakkhatta, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta was both known to me after encompassing his mind with my own mind—'The naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is incapable, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that mind … his head would split apart'—and deities too reported this matter to me: 'Venerable sir, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is incapable, without abandoning that speech … his head would split apart.'
"Moreover, Ajita, the general of the Licchavis, who recently died, has been reborn in the company of the Tāvatiṃsa gods. He too approached me and reported thus: 'Venerable sir, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is shameless; venerable sir, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is a liar. Venerable sir, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta declared even of me in the Vajjian village: "Ajita, the general of the Licchavis, has been reborn in the Great Hell." But, venerable sir, I have not been reborn in the Great Hell; I have been reborn in the company of the Tāvatiṃsa gods. Venerable sir, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is shameless; venerable sir, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is a liar. And, venerable sir, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is incapable, without abandoning that speech … his head would split apart.'
"Thus, Sunakkhatta, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta was both known to me after encompassing his mind with my own mind—'The naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is incapable of coming face to face with me without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that mind, and without relinquishing that view; even if it should occur to him thus: "Without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that mind, and without relinquishing that view, I might go face to face with the ascetic Gotama," his head would split apart'—and deities too reported this matter to me: 'Venerable sir, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is incapable of coming face to face with the Blessed One without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that mind, and without relinquishing that view; even if it should occur to him thus: "Without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that mind, and without relinquishing that view, I might go face to face with the ascetic Gotama," his head would split apart.'
"So then, Sunakkhatta, I shall walk for alms in Vesālī and, after the meal, on returning from the alms round, I shall approach the park of the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta for the day's abiding. Now, Sunakkhatta, tell whomever you wish."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.