[566] On one occasion the Blessed One, while wandering on tour among the Kosalans, arrived at Kapilavatthu. Mahānāma the Sakyan heard: "The Blessed One, it is said, has arrived at Kapilavatthu." Then Mahānāma the Sakyan approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he stood to one side. As he stood to one side, the Blessed One said to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Go, Mahānāma, and find out a suitable lodging in Kapilavatthu where we might dwell for one night today."
"Yes, venerable sir," Mahānāma the Sakyan replied to the Blessed One. Having entered Kapilavatthu and wandered through the whole of Kapilavatthu, he did not see a suitable lodging in Kapilavatthu where the Blessed One might dwell for one night. Then Mahānāma the Sakyan approached the Blessed One; having approached, he said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, there is no suitable lodging in Kapilavatthu where the Blessed One might dwell for one night today. But this Bharaṇḍu the Kālāma was formerly the Blessed One's companion in the spiritual life. Let the Blessed One dwell for one night today in his hermitage."
"Go, Mahānāma, prepare a spread."
"Yes, venerable sir," Mahānāma the Sakyan replied to the Blessed One. He went to the hermitage of Bharaṇḍu the Kālāma; having gone there, he prepared a spread and set out water for washing the feet. Then he approached the Blessed One; having approached, he said to the Blessed One: "The spread has been prepared, venerable sir, and water has been set out for washing the feet. Let the Blessed One now go at his own convenience."
Then the Blessed One went to the hermitage of Bharaṇḍu the Kālāma; having gone there, he sat down on the seat that had been prepared. Having sat down, the Blessed One washed his feet. Then it occurred to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "It is not the proper time today to attend upon the Blessed One; the Blessed One is fatigued. Tomorrow I shall attend upon the Blessed One." Having paid homage to the Blessed One and circumambulated him with his right side towards him, he departed.
Then, when that night had passed, Mahānāma the Sakyan approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. As he sat to one side, the Blessed One said to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Mahānāma, there are these three teachers existing and found in the world. What three? Here, Mahānāma, a certain teacher prescribes the full understanding (pariññā) of sensual pleasures (kāma), but does not prescribe the full understanding of forms, and does not prescribe the full understanding of feelings (vedanā). Here again, Mahānāma, a certain teacher prescribes the full understanding of sensual pleasures and prescribes the full understanding of forms, but does not prescribe the full understanding of feelings. Here again, Mahānāma, a certain teacher prescribes the full understanding of sensual pleasures, prescribes the full understanding of forms, and prescribes the full understanding of feelings. These, Mahānāma, are the three teachers existing and found in the world. Mahānāma, do these three teachers have one and the same goal, or do they have different goals?"
When this was said, Bharaṇḍu the Kālāma said to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Say 'one,' Mahānāma." When this was said, the Blessed One said to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Say 'different,' Mahānāma." A second time Bharaṇḍu the Kālāma said to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Say 'one,' Mahānāma." A second time the Blessed One said to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Say 'different,' Mahānāma." A third time Bharaṇḍu the Kālāma said to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Say 'one,' Mahānāma." A third time the Blessed One said to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Say 'different,' Mahānāma."
Then it occurred to Bharaṇḍu the Kālāma: "I have indeed been rebuked up to the third time by the ascetic Gotama in the presence of Mahānāma the Sakyan, a person of great influence. Suppose I were to depart from Kapilavatthu." Then Bharaṇḍu the Kālāma departed from Kapilavatthu. Having departed thus, he never came back again.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.