[189] Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed the bhikkhus: "Rise, friends; take your bowls and robes. The Blessed One has been made confident by the Sakyans of Cātumā and by Brahmā Sahampati, with the simile of the young seedlings and with the simile of the young calf." "Yes, friend," those bhikkhus replied to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna; and rising from their seats, taking their bowls and robes, they approached the Blessed One. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down at one side. As the Venerable Sāriputta sat at one side, the Blessed One said this to him: "Sāriputta, what did you think when the Saṅgha of bhikkhus was dismissed by me?"
The Venerable Sāriputta said: "Venerable sir, when the Saṅgha of bhikkhus was dismissed by the Blessed One, I thought thus: 'The Blessed One will now dwell at ease (appossukka), devoted to a pleasant abiding here and now (diṭṭhadhammasukhavihāra); we too shall now dwell at ease, devoted to a pleasant abiding here and now.'"
"Wait, Sāriputta! Wait, Sāriputta! Never again should such a state of mind (citta) be aroused by you."
Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Moggallāna, what did you think when the Saṅgha of bhikkhus was dismissed by me?"
The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said: "Venerable sir, when the Saṅgha of bhikkhus was dismissed by the Blessed One, I thought thus: 'The Blessed One will now dwell at ease, devoted to a pleasant abiding here and now; now I and the Venerable Sāriputta shall lead the Saṅgha of bhikkhus.'"
"Good, good, Moggallāna! For either I, Moggallāna, should lead the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, or Sāriputta and Moggallāna."
[The Four Perils]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.