[324] Bhikkhus, this thought occurred to me: "To whom, now, should I first teach the Dhamma? Who will quickly understand this Dhamma?" Then, bhikkhus, this thought occurred to me: "This Āḷāra Kālāma is wise, competent, intelligent, and has long been one with little dust in his eyes. Suppose I were to teach the Dhamma first to Āḷāra Kālāma; he will quickly understand this Dhamma." Then, bhikkhus, a deity approached me and said: "Venerable sir, Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago." And knowledge (ñāṇa) and vision arose in me: "Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago." Then, bhikkhus, this thought occurred to me: "Great indeed is Āḷāra Kālāma's loss; for if he had heard this Dhamma, he would have understood it quickly."
Then, bhikkhus, this thought occurred to me: "To whom, now, should I first teach the Dhamma? Who will quickly understand this Dhamma?" Then, bhikkhus, this thought occurred to me: "This Uddaka Rāmaputta is wise, competent, intelligent, and has long been one with little dust in his eyes. Suppose I were to teach the Dhamma first to Uddaka Rāmaputta; he will quickly understand this Dhamma." Then, bhikkhus, a deity approached me and said: "Venerable sir, Uddaka Rāmaputta passed away last evening." And knowledge and vision arose in me: "Uddaka Rāmaputta passed away last evening." Then, bhikkhus, this thought occurred to me: "Great indeed is Uddaka Rāmaputta's loss; for if he had heard this Dhamma, he would have understood it quickly."
Then, bhikkhus, this thought occurred to me: "To whom, now, should I first teach the Dhamma? Who will quickly understand this Dhamma?" Then, bhikkhus, this thought occurred to me: "The bhikkhus of the group of five were of great service to me: they attended upon me while I was resolute in striving. Suppose I were to teach the Dhamma first to the bhikkhus of the group of five." Then, bhikkhus, this thought occurred to me: "Where are the bhikkhus of the group of five dwelling now?" And with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human, I saw, bhikkhus, the bhikkhus of the group of five dwelling at Bārāṇasī, in the Deer Park at Isipatana. Then, bhikkhus, when I had dwelt at Uruvelā as long as I pleased, I set out to wander by stages toward Bārāṇasī.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.