[11] The Ājīvaka Upaka saw the Blessed One traveling on the highroad between Gayā and the Bodhi tree. Having seen him, he said this to the Blessed One: "Friend, your faculties are serene; your complexion is pure and bright. Under whom, friend, have you gone forth? Who is your teacher? Whose Dhamma do you profess?" When this was said, the Blessed One addressed the Ājīvaka Upaka in verses:
"All-vanquishing, all-knowing am I,
unstained with regard to all dhammas,
having given up all, liberated in the destruction of craving (taṇhā) —
having directly known this myself, whom should I point to as teacher?
I have no teacher;
one like me does not exist;
in the world with its devas
there is no person to equal me.
For I am the Arahant in the world;
I am the unsurpassed teacher;
I alone am the Perfectly Awakened One;
I have become cool, I am quenched.
To set rolling the Wheel of Dhamma
I go to the city of the Kāsis;
in a world become blind
I shall beat the drum of the deathless."
"By what you claim, friend, you must be the infinite victor (anantajina)."
"Victors indeed are those like me,
who have attained the destruction of the taints (āsava);
evil dhammas have been vanquished by me —
therefore, Upaka, I am a victor."
When this was said, the Ājīvaka Upaka, saying "It may be so, friend," shook his head, took a wrong road, and departed.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.