[299] When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Venerable Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta: "What is the venerable one's name? And how do the venerable one's companions in the holy life (sabrahmacārī) know him?"
"Puṇṇa, friend, is my name; and my companions in the holy life know me as Mantāṇiputta."
"It is wonderful, friend, it is marvellous, friend, that the deep, deep questions (pañhā) have been answered point by point by the Venerable Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta, just as they would be by a learned disciple who rightly understands the Teacher's dispensation. It is a gain for his companions in the holy life, it is well gained by his companions in the holy life, that they get to see the Venerable Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta, that they get to attend upon him. Even if his companions in the holy life could get to see him and get to attend upon him only by carrying the Venerable Mantāṇiputta about on their heads upon a cloth pad (veḷaṇḍuka), that too would be a gain for them, that too would be well gained by them. And for us too it is a gain, for us too it is well gained, that we get to see the Venerable Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta, that we get to attend upon him."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.