[92] When Prince Abhaya was seated to one side, Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta said this to him: "Come, Prince, refute the doctrine of the ascetic Gotama, and thus a fair report of you will spread about: 'Prince Abhaya has refuted the doctrine of the ascetic Gotama, one of such great power, of such great might.'"
"But, venerable sir, how am I to refute the doctrine of the ascetic Gotama, one of such great power, of such great might?"
"Come, Prince, go to the ascetic Gotama, and having approached, say this to the ascetic Gotama: 'Venerable sir, would the Tathāgata utter that speech which is unwelcome and disagreeable to others?' If the ascetic Gotama, being asked thus, answers thus: 'Prince, the Tathāgata would utter that speech which is unwelcome and disagreeable to others,' then you should say this to him: 'Then, venerable sir, what difference is there between you and an ordinary person (puthujjana)? For even an ordinary person would utter that speech which is unwelcome and disagreeable to others.' But if the ascetic Gotama, being asked thus, answers thus: 'Prince, the Tathāgata would not utter that speech which is unwelcome and disagreeable to others,' then you should say this to him: 'Then, venerable sir, why have you declared of Devadatta: "Devadatta is bound for the plane of misery, Devadatta is bound for hell, Devadatta will remain there for an eon, Devadatta is incurable"? For by that speech of yours Devadatta was angry and displeased.' When the ascetic Gotama is asked this two-horned question by you, Prince, he will be able neither to spit it up nor to swallow it down. Just as if an iron caltrop (ayasiṅghāṭaka) were lodged in a man's throat, and he could neither spit it up nor swallow it down, even so, Prince, when the ascetic Gotama is asked this two-horned question by you, he will be able neither to spit it up nor to swallow it down."
"Even so, venerable sir," Prince Abhaya assented to Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta; and rising from his seat, having paid homage to Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta and circumambulated him keeping him on his right, he approached the Blessed One. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. As Prince Abhaya was seated to one side, having looked up at the sun, this occurred to him: "Today is not the time to refute the doctrine of the Blessed One. Tomorrow, then, in my own residence I shall refute the doctrine of the Blessed One." And he said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One consent to accept tomorrow's meal from me, together with three others, himself the fourth." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then Prince Abhaya, having understood the Blessed One's consent, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on his right, and departed.
Then, when that night had passed, in the morning the Blessed One, having dressed and taken bowl and robe, approached the residence of Prince Abhaya; having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared. Then Prince Abhaya with his own hand served and satisfied the Blessed One with excellent hard and soft food. Then, when the Blessed One had eaten and had withdrawn his hand from the bowl, Prince Abhaya took a certain low seat and sat down to one side.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.