[575] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, walking on tour among the Cetiyas, set out toward Bhaddavatikā. Cowherds, herdsmen, farmers, and travelers saw the Blessed One coming from afar; having seen him, they said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One not go to Ambatittha. At Ambatittha, venerable sir, in the hermitage of a matted-hair ascetic, there dwells a nāga (serpent), possessed of psychic power, a venomous snake of terrible venom. May it not harm the Blessed One."
When this was said, the Blessed One remained silent. A second time … A third time the cowherds, herdsmen, farmers, and travelers said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One not go to Ambatittha. At Ambatittha, venerable sir, in the hermitage of a matted-hair ascetic, there dwells a nāga, possessed of psychic power, a venomous snake of terrible venom. May it not harm the Blessed One." A third time the Blessed One remained silent.
Then the Blessed One, walking on tour by stages, arrived at Bhaddavatikā. There the Blessed One dwelt at Bhaddavatikā.
Then the venerable Sāgata approached Ambatittha, the hermitage of the matted-hair ascetic; having approached and entered the fire-hall, he prepared a spreading of grass and sat down, folding his legs crosswise, setting his body erect, and establishing mindfulness before him. That nāga saw that the venerable Sāgata had entered; having seen him, pained and dejected, it emitted smoke. The venerable Sāgata too emitted smoke. Then that nāga, unable to bear the slight, blazed forth. The venerable Sāgata too, having attained the fire element (tejodhātu), blazed forth. Then the venerable Sāgata, having mastered that nāga's fire with fire, went toward Bhaddavatikā.
Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Bhaddavatikā for as long as he wished, set out on tour toward Kosambī. The lay followers of Kosambī heard: "It is said the noble Sāgata did battle with the nāga of Ambatittha." Then the Blessed One, walking on tour by stages, arrived at Kosambī. Then the lay followers of Kosambī, having gone out to meet the Blessed One, approached the venerable Sāgata; having approached, they paid homage to the venerable Sāgata and stood to one side. Standing to one side, the lay followers of Kosambī said this to the venerable Sāgata: "Venerable sir, what is hard for the noble ones to obtain and agreeable to them? What shall we prepare?"
When this was said, the group-of-six bhikkhus said this to the lay followers of Kosambī: "There is, friends, a clear liquor called kāpotikā (pigeon-colored); it is hard for bhikkhus to obtain and agreeable to them. Prepare that."
Then the lay followers of Kosambī, having prepared the clear kāpotikā liquor in house after house, seeing the venerable Sāgata walking for alms, said this to the venerable Sāgata: "Venerable sir, let the noble Sāgata drink the clear kāpotikā liquor! Venerable sir, let the noble Sāgata drink the clear kāpotikā liquor!" Then the venerable Sāgata, having drunk the clear kāpotikā liquor in house after house, as he was leaving the city, collapsed at the city gate.
Then the Blessed One, leaving the city together with many bhikkhus, saw the venerable Sāgata collapsed at the city gate; having seen him, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, take up Sāgata." "Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One, and having carried the venerable Sāgata to the monastery, they laid him down with his head toward the Blessed One. But the venerable Sāgata turned around and lay down with his feet toward the Blessed One.
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, was not Sāgata respectful and deferential toward the Tathāgata?" "Yes, venerable sir." "But, bhikkhus, is Sāgata now respectful and deferential toward the Tathāgata?" "Indeed not, venerable sir." "Bhikkhus, did not Sāgata do battle with the nāga of Ambatittha?" "Yes, venerable sir." "But, bhikkhus, would Sāgata now be able to do battle even with a water snake?" "Indeed not, venerable sir." "Bhikkhus, should that be drunk, by drinking which one would become senseless?" "Indeed not, venerable sir." "Bhikkhus, it is unbecoming for Sāgata, unsuitable, improper, unworthy of an ascetic, not allowable, not to be done. How indeed, bhikkhus, could Sāgata drink an intoxicant? This, bhikkhus, is not for the arousing of confidence in those without confidence, nor for the increase of confidence in those who have it. … And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: 'In drinking fermented and distilled liquor (surāmeraya), there is an offense of pācittiya.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.