[172] Now at that time Sunīdha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, were building a city at Pāṭaligāma to ward off the Vajjīs. Now at that time numerous deities, by the thousand, were taking possession of sites in Pāṭaligāma. In whatever place deities of great power take possession of sites, there the minds (citta) of kings and royal chief ministers of great power incline to build their residences; in whatever place deities of middling rank take possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of middling rank incline to build their residences; in whatever place deities of low rank take possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of low rank incline to build their residences. And the Blessed One saw with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human, those deities, by the thousand, taking possession of sites in Pāṭaligāma: in whatever place deities of great power take possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of great power incline to build their residences; in whatever place deities of middling rank take possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of middling rank incline to build their residences; in whatever place deities of low rank take possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of low rank incline to build their residences. Then the Blessed One, having risen at the time of dawn of that night, addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Who is it, Ānanda, that is building a city at Pāṭaligāma?" "Venerable sir, Sunīdha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, are building a city at Pāṭaligāma to ward off the Vajjīs."
"Just as though, Ānanda, they had taken counsel with the Tāvatiṃsa deities, even so, Ānanda, Sunīdha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, are building a city at Pāṭaligāma to ward off the Vajjīs. Here, Ānanda, I saw with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human, numerous deities, by the thousand, taking possession of sites in Pāṭaligāma: in whatever place deities of great power take possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of great power incline to build their residences; in whatever place deities of middling rank take possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of middling rank incline to build their residences; in whatever place deities of low rank take possession of sites, there the minds of kings and royal chief ministers of low rank incline to build their residences. As far, Ānanda, as the sphere (āyatana) of the Ariyans extends, as far as the paths of trade extend, this will be the chief city, the place where the bales of goods are broken open. But for Pāṭaliputta, Ānanda, there will be three dangers: from fire, from water, or from the breaking of mutual concord."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.