[459] Then, Ānanda, Sakka, lord of the devas, addressed the devas of the Tāvatiṃsa realm: 'Good sirs, would you wish to see King Nimi?'
'We wish, good sir, to see King Nimi.'
Now at that time, Ānanda, it being the Uposatha day of the fifteenth, King Nimi, having bathed his head and undertaken the Uposatha, was seated on the upper storey of his excellent palace. Then, Ānanda, just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so did Sakka, lord of the devas, vanish from among the devas of the Tāvatiṃsa realm and appear before King Nimi. Then, Ānanda, Sakka, lord of the devas, said this to King Nimi: 'It is a gain for you, great king! It is well gained by you, great king! The devas of the Tāvatiṃsa realm, great king, sit assembled in the Sudhammā hall singing your praises: "It is a gain indeed, sirs, for the people of Videha! It is well gained indeed, sirs, by the people of Videha, whose King Nimi is righteous, a king of righteousness (dhammarājā), a great king established in righteousness; he practices righteousness among brahmins and householders, among townsfolk and country folk alike, and he observes the Uposatha on the fourteenth, the fifteenth, and the eighth of the fortnight." The devas of the Tāvatiṃsa realm, great king, desire to see you. I shall send you, great king, a chariot yoked with a thousand thoroughbreds; mount the divine vehicle, great king, without wavering.'
King Nimi consented by silence. Then, Ānanda, Sakka, lord of the devas, having understood King Nimi's consent, just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so did he vanish from before King Nimi and appear among the devas of the Tāvatiṃsa realm.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.