[650] "What do you think, headman? Do you know the Koḷiyas' hired men (bhaṭā) with drooping topknots?"
"I know, venerable sir, the Koḷiyas' hired men with drooping topknots."
"What do you think, headman? What is the purpose of the Koḷiyas' hired men with drooping topknots?"
"Venerable sir, their purpose is to ward off the Koḷiyas' thieves and to convey the Koḷiyas' messages. It is for this purpose, venerable sir, that the Koḷiyas keep hired men with drooping topknots."
"What do you think, headman? Do you know the hired men with drooping topknots in the Koḷiya town — whether they are virtuous or unvirtuous?"
"I know, venerable sir, that the Koḷiyas' hired men with drooping topknots are unvirtuous, of evil character; and whoever in the world are unvirtuous, of evil character, the Koḷiyas' hired men with drooping topknots are among them."
"Headman, if someone were to speak thus: 'Pāṭaliya the headman knows the Koḷiyas' hired men with drooping topknots, who are unvirtuous, of evil character; therefore Pāṭaliya the headman too is unvirtuous, of evil character' — would he be speaking rightly?"
"Certainly not, venerable sir. The Koḷiyas' hired men with drooping topknots are one thing; I am another. The Koḷiyas' hired men with drooping topknots are of one character; I am of another character."
"Since you, headman, will obtain [the acknowledgment]: 'Pāṭaliya the headman knows the Koḷiyas' hired men with drooping topknots, who are unvirtuous, of evil character, yet Pāṭaliya the headman is not unvirtuous, of evil character' — then shall the Tathāgata not obtain [the acknowledgment]: 'The Tathāgata knows magic (māyā), yet the Tathāgata is not a magician'?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.