[318] Some said: "This ascetic Gotama, too, leads an order and a community and is a teacher of a community; he is well-known, famous, a founder of a sect, deemed holy by many people. And he is honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated by his disciples; and his disciples, having honored and respected the ascetic Gotama, dwell in dependence upon him. Once it so happened that the ascetic Gotama was teaching the Dhamma to an assembly of many hundreds. There a certain disciple of the ascetic Gotama cleared his throat. Then a certain companion in the holy life nudged him with his knee: 'Let the venerable one be quiet; let the venerable one make no sound. The Blessed One, our Teacher, is teaching the Dhamma.' At the time when the ascetic Gotama is teaching the Dhamma to an assembly of many hundreds, there is no sound of his disciples sneezing or clearing their throats. That great crowd stands attending upon him expectantly, thinking: 'Whatever Dhamma the Blessed One will speak to us, that we shall hear.' Just as if a man at a crossroads were to press out pure, flawless honey of the small bee, and a great crowd would stand attending upon him expectantly—even so, at the time when the ascetic Gotama is teaching the Dhamma to an assembly of many hundreds, there is no sound of his disciples sneezing or clearing their throats. That great crowd stands attending upon him expectantly, thinking: 'Whatever Dhamma the Blessed One will speak to us, that we shall hear.' Even those disciples of the ascetic Gotama who, having quarreled with their companions in the holy life, renounce the training and return to the lower life—even they speak in praise of the Teacher, speak in praise of the Dhamma, and speak in praise of the Saṅgha; they blame only themselves and blame no others, saying: 'It is we who were unfortunate; it is we who have little merit; for although we went forth in a Dhamma and Discipline so well proclaimed, we were not able to lead the perfectly complete and pure holy life for as long as life lasts.' Whether they become monastery attendants or become lay followers, they conduct themselves having undertaken the five precepts. Thus is the ascetic Gotama honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated by his disciples; and his disciples, having honored and respected him, dwell in dependence upon him."
"But, Udāyī, how many qualities do you see in me, on account of which my disciples honor, respect, esteem, and venerate me, and, having honored and respected me, dwell in dependence upon me?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.