[650] When they had spoken thus, the brahmin Caṅkī said to those brahmins: "Then, sirs, hear from me also why it is we who are worthy to go to see that ascetic Gotama, and it is not that worthy Gotama who should come to see us. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama is well born on both sides, on his mother's side and on his father's side, of pure descent through the womb back to the seventh generation of forefathers, unimpeachable and irreproachable with respect to birth. Since the ascetic Gotama is well born on both sides … irreproachable with respect to birth, for this reason too it is not fitting that the worthy Gotama should come to see us; rather, it is we who are worthy to go to see that worthy Gotama. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama went forth abandoning abundant bullion and gold, both that stored beneath the earth and that stored above ground. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama went forth from the household life into homelessness while still young, with jet-black hair, endowed with the blessing of youth, in the prime of life. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama, though his mother and father did not wish it and wept with tearful faces, shaved off his hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and went forth from the household life into homelessness. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama is handsome, comely, inspiring confidence, endowed with supreme beauty of complexion, with the complexion of Brahmā and a presence like Brahmā's, in no small measure remarkable to behold. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama is virtuous, of noble virtuous conduct (sīla), of wholesome virtuous conduct, endowed with wholesome virtuous conduct. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama is of lovely speech, of lovely enunciation, endowed with urbane speech that is fluent, faultless, and conveys the meaning clearly. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama is a teacher of the teachers of many. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama has destroyed sensual lust and is rid of caprice. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama is one who affirms the doctrine of action (kammavādī), one who affirms the efficacy of deeds (kiriyavādī), who intends no harm toward the race of brahmins. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama went forth from a high family, from an unbroken khattiya family. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama went forth from a rich family, of great wealth and great possessions. Sirs, people come from foreign realms and foreign districts to question the ascetic Gotama. Sirs, many thousands of deities have gone for refuge for life to the ascetic Gotama. Sirs, such a fair report of fame concerning the ascetic Gotama has spread abroad: 'That Blessed One is thus an arahant, a fully awakened one, accomplished in true knowledge (vijjā) and conduct, well-gone, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.' Sirs, the ascetic Gotama is endowed with the thirty-two marks of a great man. Sirs, King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, together with his children and wife, has gone for refuge for life to the ascetic Gotama. Sirs, King Pasenadi of Kosala has gone for refuge for life to the ascetic Gotama. Sirs, the brahmin Pokkharasāti, together with his children and wife, has gone for refuge for life to the ascetic Gotama. Sirs, the ascetic Gotama has arrived at Opāsāda and is dwelling at Opāsāda, in the sal-tree Deva Grove to the north of Opāsāda. Now whatever ascetics or brahmins come into our village domain are our guests, and guests should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated by us. Since the ascetic Gotama has arrived at Opāsāda and is dwelling at Opāsāda, in the sal-tree Deva Grove to the north of Opāsāda, the ascetic Gotama is our guest, and as a guest he should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated by us. For this reason too it is not fitting that the worthy Gotama should come to see us; rather, it is we who are worthy to go to see that worthy Gotama. Sirs, this much is the praise of that worthy Gotama that I have learned; but the praise of that worthy Gotama is not confined to this much, for the praise of that worthy Gotama is immeasurable. Sirs, one endowed with even a single one of these factors would make it unfitting for that worthy Gotama to come to see us; rather, it is we who are worthy to go to see that worthy Gotama."
"Then, sirs, let us all go to see the ascetic Gotama."
Then the brahmin Caṅkī, together with a large company of brahmins, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he sat down to one side. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was seated having concluded some courteous and memorable talk with certain very senior brahmins.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.