[460] Then, Ānanda, Sakka, lord of the devas, addressed Mātali the charioteer: "Come, friend Mātali, harness the thoroughbred chariot yoked with a thousand horses, go to King Nimi, and say this: 'Great king, this thoroughbred chariot yoked with a thousand horses has been sent by Sakka, lord of the devas. Mount the divine vehicle, great king, without wavering.'"
"Yes, sire," Mātali the charioteer replied in assent to Sakka, lord of the devas. Having harnessed the thoroughbred chariot yoked with a thousand horses, he approached King Nimi and said this: "Great king, this thoroughbred chariot yoked with a thousand horses has been sent by Sakka, lord of the devas. Mount the divine vehicle, great king, without wavering. But, great king, by which way shall I lead you — by the way in which those of evil deeds experience the results of evil deeds, or by the way in which those of good deeds experience the results of good deeds?"
"Lead me by both ways, Mātali."
Ānanda, Mātali the charioteer brought King Nimi into the Sudhammā assembly hall. Ānanda, Sakka, lord of the devas, saw King Nimi coming while still far off, and having seen him, said this to King Nimi: "Come, great king! Welcome, great king! The devas of the Tāvatiṃsa, great king, are sitting assembled in the Sudhammā assembly hall, singing your praises: 'It is a gain, sirs, for the people of Videha; it is well gained indeed, sirs, for the people of Videha, that King Nimi is theirs — a righteous king, a king of the Dhamma, a great king established in the Dhamma. He practices the Dhamma 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, great king, wish to see you. Delight, great king, among the devas with the power of the devas."
"Enough, dear sir. Let me be taken back right there to Mithilā. There I shall practice the Dhamma among brahmins and householders, among townsfolk and country folk alike, and I shall observe the Uposatha on the fourteenth, the fifteenth, and the eighth of the fortnight."
Then, Ānanda, Sakka, lord of the devas, addressed Mātali the charioteer: "Come, friend Mātali, harness the thoroughbred chariot yoked with a thousand horses and take King Nimi back right there to Mithilā."
"Yes, sire," Mātali the charioteer replied in assent to Sakka, lord of the devas. Having harnessed the thoroughbred chariot yoked with a thousand horses, he took King Nimi back right there to Mithilā.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.