[323] Then, bhikkhus, having understood the Brahmā's invitation, and out of compassion for beings, I surveyed the world with the eye of a Buddha (buddhacakkhu). Surveying the world with the eye of a Buddha, I saw beings with little dust in their eyes and with much dust in their eyes, with keen faculties and with dull faculties, of good disposition and of bad disposition, easy to instruct and hard to instruct, and some who dwelt seeing danger in fault regarding the world beyond.
Just as, in a pond of blue lotuses, or a pond of red lotuses, or a pond of white lotuses, some blue lotuses, red lotuses, or white lotuses, born in the water and grown up in the water, do not rise above the water but thrive nourished while submerged within it; some blue lotuses, red lotuses, or white lotuses, born in the water and grown up in the water, without rising above the water, stand level with the water; and some blue lotuses, red lotuses, or white lotuses, born in the water and grown up in the water, stand having risen above the water, unwetted by the water — even so, bhikkhus, surveying the world with the eye of a Buddha, I saw beings with little dust in their eyes and with much dust in their eyes, with keen faculties and with dull faculties, of good disposition and of bad disposition, easy to instruct and hard to instruct, and some who dwelt seeing danger in fault regarding the world beyond.
Then, bhikkhus, I addressed Brahmā Sahampati in verse:
'Open for them are the doors of the Deathless (amata):
let those who have ears release their faith.
Perceiving trouble, O Brahmā, I did not speak
the sublime Dhamma, well mastered, among humankind.'
Then, bhikkhus, Brahmā Sahampati, thinking, 'The opportunity has been granted to me by the Blessed One for the teaching of the Dhamma,' paid homage to me, circumambulated me keeping his right side toward me, and vanished right there.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.