[188] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha, on Mount Gijjhakūṭa. Then Upaka Maṇḍikāputta approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Upaka Maṇḍikāputta said this to the Blessed One: "Bhante, I hold such a doctrine, such a view (diṭṭhi): 'Whoever launches criticism of another — every such person, launching criticism of another, does not make good his criticism; not making it good, he is blameworthy and subject to reproach.'"
"If, Upaka, one launches criticism of another and, launching criticism of another, does not make good his criticism, then, not making it good, he is blameworthy and subject to reproach. You yourself, Upaka, have launched criticism of another; launching criticism of another, you do not make good your criticism; not making it good, you are blameworthy and subject to reproach."
"Bhante, just as one might snare [a fish] with a great snare at the very moment it surfaces, even so, Bhante, at the very moment I surfaced I was snared by the Blessed One with the great snare of doctrine."
"'This is unwholesome (akusala)' — this, Upaka, has been declared by me. Therein the words are without measure, the phrasings are without measure, the Tathāgata's teaching of the Dhamma is without measure: 'For this reason too, this is unwholesome.' And 'This unwholesome should be abandoned' — this, Upaka, has been declared by me. Therein the words are without measure, the phrasings are without measure, the Tathāgata's teaching of the Dhamma is without measure: 'For this reason too, this unwholesome should be abandoned.' 'This is wholesome (kusala)' — this, Upaka, has been declared by me. Therein the words are without measure, the phrasings are without measure, the Tathāgata's teaching of the Dhamma is without measure: 'For this reason too, this is wholesome.' And 'This wholesome should be developed' — this, Upaka, has been declared by me. Therein the words are without measure, the phrasings are without measure, the Tathāgata's teaching of the Dhamma is without measure: 'For this reason too, this wholesome should be developed.'"
Then Upaka Maṇḍikāputta, having delighted in and rejoiced at the Blessed One's words, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side toward him, and approached King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Vedehī; having approached, he reported to King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Vedehī, the entire conversation he had had with the Blessed One. When this was said, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Vedehī, angry and displeased, said this to Upaka Maṇḍikāputta: "How presumptuous is this salt-maker's boy, how sharp-tongued, how impudent, in that he should think that the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Fully Self-Enlightened One, may be disparaged! Away with you, Upaka — perish! Let me not see you!"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.