[268] Now on that occasion several bhikkhus were going to see the Blessed One. The venerable Vacchagotta saw those bhikkhus going in the distance, and having seen them, he approached those bhikkhus; having approached, he said to those bhikkhus: "Now then, where are the venerable ones going?"
"Friend, we are going to see the Blessed One."
"In that case, venerable ones, pay homage with your heads at the Blessed One's feet in my name, saying: 'Venerable sir, the bhikkhu Vacchagotta pays homage with his head at the Blessed One's feet, and he says thus: The Blessed One has been served by me; the Fortunate One (sugata) has been served by me.'"
"Yes, friend," those bhikkhus replied to the venerable Vacchagotta. Then those bhikkhus approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, those bhikkhus said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the venerable Vacchagotta pays homage with his head at the Blessed One's feet, and he says thus: 'The Blessed One has been served by me; the Fortunate One has been served by me.'"
"Bhikkhus, the bhikkhu Vacchagotta was already known to me beforehand, when I encompassed his mind with my own mind: 'The bhikkhu Vacchagotta is one possessing the three true knowledges (tevijja), of great psychic power, of great might.' Deities too informed me of this matter: 'Venerable sir, the bhikkhu Vacchagotta is one possessing the three true knowledges, of great psychic power, of great might.'"
The Blessed One said this. Delighted, those bhikkhus rejoiced in the Blessed One's words.
The Mahāvacchagotta Sutta, the third, is finished.
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The Dīghanakha Sutta
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.