[42] Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling near Kusinārā, in the forest grove at Baliharaṇa (the place of offerings). There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus!" "Venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"Bhikkhus, do you think of me thus: 'The ascetic Gotama teaches the Dhamma for the sake of robes, or the ascetic Gotama teaches the Dhamma for the sake of almsfood, or the ascetic Gotama teaches the Dhamma for the sake of lodgings, or thus, the ascetic Gotama teaches the Dhamma for the sake of this or that state of existence'?"
"Venerable sir, we do not think of the Blessed One thus: 'The ascetic Gotama teaches the Dhamma for the sake of robes, or the ascetic Gotama teaches the Dhamma for the sake of almsfood, or the ascetic Gotama teaches the Dhamma for the sake of lodgings, or thus, the ascetic Gotama teaches the Dhamma for the sake of this or that state of existence.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.