[589] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove (Veḷuvana), at the Squirrels' Feeding Ground (Kalandakanivāpa). Then Tālapuṭa, the headman (gāmaṇi) of actors, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Tālapuṭa the headman of actors said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I have heard this said by actors of old, teachers and teachers of teachers: 'That actor who, in the midst of the stage, in the midst of a festival, makes people laugh and delights them with what is true and what is false — he, with the breaking up of the body, after death, is reborn in the companionship of the laughing devas (pahāsā devā).' What does the Blessed One say about this?" "Enough, headman, let that be; do not ask me that."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.