[139] Now at that time the Venerable Pilindavaccha was a frequenter of families (kulupaka) in that little village. Then the Venerable Pilindavaccha, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, entered the Pilindavaccha village for alms. Now at that time there was a festival in that village. Children, adorned and garlanded, were playing. Then the Venerable Pilindavaccha, walking for alms on uninterrupted round in the Pilindavaccha village, approached the dwelling of a certain monastery attendant (ārāmika); having approached, he sat down on the appointed seat.
Now at that time the daughter of that monastery attendant's wife, having seen the other children adorned and garlanded, was crying: "Give me a garland! Give me an ornament!" Then the Venerable Pilindavaccha said to that attendant woman: "Why is this girl crying?"
"Venerable sir, this girl, having seen the other children adorned and garlanded, is crying, 'Give me a garland! Give me an ornament!' But whence a garland for us who are poor? Whence an ornament?"
Then the Venerable Pilindavaccha, taking a certain coil of grass (tiṇaṇḍūpaka), said to that attendant woman: "Here, place this coil of grass upon that girl's head." Then that attendant woman, taking that coil of grass, placed it upon that girl's head. It became a golden garland—beautiful, lovely to behold, charming; there was no such golden garland even in the king's inner palace.
People informed King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha: "Sire, in the house of such-and-such a monastery attendant there is a golden garland—beautiful, lovely to behold, charming; there is no such golden garland even in Your Majesty's inner palace. Whence could that poor man have it? Without doubt it was obtained by theft." Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha had that attendant's family put in bonds.
A second time the Venerable Pilindavaccha, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, entered the Pilindavaccha village for alms; walking for alms on uninterrupted round in the Pilindavaccha village, he approached the dwelling of that monastery attendant; having approached, he asked the neighbors: "Where has this attendant's family gone?"
"Venerable sir, they have been put in bonds by the king on account of that golden garland."
Then the Venerable Pilindavaccha approached the residence of King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha; having approached, he sat down on the appointed seat. Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha approached the Venerable Pilindavaccha; having approached and paid homage to the Venerable Pilindavaccha, he sat down at one side. As King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha sat at one side, the Venerable Pilindavaccha said to him: "Why, great king, has the attendant's family been put in bonds?"
"Venerable sir, in that attendant's house there is a golden garland—beautiful, lovely to behold, charming; there is no such golden garland even in our own inner palace. Whence could that poor man have it? Without doubt it was obtained by theft."
Then the Venerable Pilindavaccha resolved (adhimucci) upon the palace of King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha: "Gold!" It became made entirely of gold. "But whence, great king, have you so much gold as this?"
"It is understood, venerable sir: this is the master's own power of psychic potency (iddhānubhāva)." And he had that attendant's family released.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.