[166] "Bhikkhus, there are these eight assemblies. What eight? An assembly of khattiyas, an assembly of brahmins, an assembly of householders, an assembly of ascetics (samaṇa), an assembly of the devas of the Four Great Kings (Cātummahārājikā), an assembly of the Tāvatiṃsa devas, an assembly of Māras, and an assembly of brahmās.
"I recall, bhikkhus, having approached many hundreds of assemblies of khattiyas. There too I have previously sat together with them, previously conversed with them, and previously entered into discussion with them. There, whatever their appearance (vaṇṇa) was, such was my appearance; whatever their voice (sara) was, such was my voice. And with a talk on the Dhamma I instructed, urged, roused, and gladdened them; and while I was speaking, they did not know me, thinking: 'Who is this that speaks — a deva or a human being?' And having instructed, urged, roused, and gladdened them with a talk on the Dhamma, I disappeared; and when I had disappeared, they did not know me, thinking: 'Who is this that has disappeared — a deva or a human being?'
"I recall, bhikkhus, having approached many hundreds of assemblies of brahmins … of householders, of ascetics, of the devas of the Four Great Kings, of the Tāvatiṃsa devas, of Māras, of brahmās. There too I have previously sat together with them, previously conversed with them, and previously entered into discussion with them. There, whatever their appearance was, such was my appearance; whatever their voice was, such was my voice. And with a talk on the Dhamma I instructed, urged, roused, and gladdened them; and while I was speaking, they did not know me, thinking: 'Who is this that speaks — a deva or a human being?' And having instructed, urged, roused, and gladdened them with a talk on the Dhamma, I disappeared; and when I had disappeared, they did not know me, thinking: 'Who is this that has disappeared — a deva or a human being?'
"These, bhikkhus, are the eight assemblies."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.