[541] When those bhikkhus had sat down to one side, the Blessed One said this to them: "Bhikkhus, is it true, as is said, that you dwell quarrelsome, contentious, fallen into dispute, wounding one another with the daggers of the mouth; that you neither persuade one another nor come to persuasion, neither reconcile one another nor come to reconciliation?"
"It is so, venerable sir."
"What do you think, bhikkhus? At the time when you dwell quarrelsome, contentious, fallen into dispute, wounding one another with the daggers of the mouth — at that time, is bodily action of loving-kindness (mettā) established in you toward your companions in the holy life, both openly and in private? Is verbal action of loving-kindness established in you toward your companions in the holy life, both openly and in private? Is mental action of loving-kindness established in you toward your companions in the holy life, both openly and in private?"
"No indeed, venerable sir."
"So it seems, bhikkhus, that at the time when you dwell quarrelsome, contentious, fallen into dispute, wounding one another with the daggers of the mouth — at that time, no bodily action of loving-kindness is established in you toward your companions in the holy life, either openly or in private; no verbal action of loving-kindness is established in you toward your companions in the holy life, either openly or in private; no mental action of loving-kindness is established in you toward your companions in the holy life, either openly or in private. That being so, what could you possibly know, what could you see, you futile men, that you dwell quarrelsome, contentious, fallen into dispute, wounding one another with the daggers of the mouth; that you neither persuade one another nor come to persuasion, neither reconcile one another nor come to reconciliation? Indeed, futile men, that will be for your harm and suffering (dukkha) for a long time."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.