[557] Then it occurred to Citta the householder: "This bhikkhu, who is the most junior of all in this Saṅgha of bhikkhus — his is such power of psychic potency as this!"
Then the Venerable Mahaka, having reached the park, said to the venerable elder: "Is this much enough, venerable elder?"
"This much is enough, friend Mahaka; this much has been done, friend Mahaka; this much has been offered in honor, friend Mahaka."
Then the elder bhikkhus went each to his own dwelling, and the Venerable Mahaka too went to his own dwelling. Then Citta the householder approached the Venerable Mahaka; having approached, he paid homage to the Venerable Mahaka and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Citta the householder said to the Venerable Mahaka: "It would be good, venerable sir, if the worthy Mahaka would show me a miracle of psychic power, a state surpassing the human."
"Then, householder, spread out your upper robe on the verandah and set out a bundle of grass upon it."
"Yes, venerable sir," Citta the householder replied to the Venerable Mahaka; and he spread out his upper robe on the verandah and set out a bundle of grass upon it.
Then the Venerable Mahaka, having entered his dwelling and fastened the bolt, performed such a feat of psychic power that a flame shot out through the keyhole and through the chink around the door-bar, and it burned the grass but did not burn the upper robe. Then Citta the householder, having shaken out his upper robe, stood to one side, stirred with awe, his hair standing on end. Then the Venerable Mahaka came out of his dwelling and said to Citta the householder: "Is this much enough, householder?"
"This much is enough, venerable Mahaka; this much has been done, venerable Mahaka; this much has been offered in honor, venerable Mahaka. Venerable sir, may the worthy Mahaka delight in the delightful Ambāṭaka Grove at Macchikāsaṇḍa. I shall be zealous in providing the worthy Mahaka with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicinal requisites for the sick."
"That is kindly said, householder."
Then the Venerable Mahaka, having set his lodging in order and taken his bowl and robe, departed from Macchikāsaṇḍa; and as he thus departed from Macchikāsaṇḍa, he remained departed for good — he never came back again.
The fourth [sutta].
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.