Mahāsaccakasutta

Suttapiṭaka · Majjhimanikāya · Vol. 12 · Section 432

[432] When this was said, Saccaka the Nigaṇṭha's son said this to the Blessed One: "It is wonderful, worthy Gotama! It is marvelous, worthy Gotama! — that when the worthy Gotama is spoken to thus offensively again and again, assailed with insolent courses of speech, the very color of his skin brightens and the color of his face becomes serene, as befits an arahant, a fully awakened one. I recall, worthy Gotama, engaging Pūraṇa Kassapa in debate, argument against argument; and he, engaged by me in debate, argument against argument, evaded the question by answering one thing with another, diverted the talk outside the subject, and displayed anger, hatred, and displeasure. But when the worthy Gotama is spoken to thus offensively again and again, assailed with insolent courses of speech, the very color of his skin brightens and the color of his face becomes serene, as befits an arahant, a fully awakened one. I recall, worthy Gotama, engaging Makkhali Gosāla … Ajita Kesakambala … Pakudha Kaccāyana … Sañjaya Velaṭṭhaputta … the Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta in debate, argument against argument; and he too, engaged by me in debate, argument against argument, evaded the question by answering one thing with another, diverted the talk outside the subject, and displayed anger, hatred, and displeasure. But when the worthy Gotama is spoken to thus offensively again and again, assailed with insolent courses of speech, the very color of his skin brightens and the color of his face becomes serene, as befits an arahant, a fully awakened one. And now, worthy Gotama, we must go; we have many duties, much that must be done." "Do now, Aggivessana, whatever you think it is time to do." Then Saccaka the Nigaṇṭha's son, having delighted in and rejoiced at what the Blessed One had said, rose from his seat and departed. The Mahāsaccaka Sutta, the sixth, is finished. ___________ The Cūḷataṇhāsaṅkhaya Sutta

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.