[64] Now at that time Sañjaya the wanderer (paribbājaka) was residing at Rājagaha together with a great assembly of wanderers, with two hundred and fifty wanderers. Now at that time Sāriputta and Moggallāna were living the holy life under Sañjaya the wanderer. They had made an agreement: "Whoever first attains the Deathless (amata), let him inform the other."
Then the Venerable Assaji, having dressed in the morning and taken his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms — inspiring confidence in his going forward and returning, in his looking ahead and looking aside, in his bending and stretching, his eyes downcast, accomplished in the postures (iriyāpatha). Sāriputta the wanderer saw the Venerable Assaji walking for alms in Rājagaha — inspiring confidence in his going forward and returning, in his looking ahead and looking aside, in his bending and stretching, his eyes downcast, accomplished in the postures — and on seeing him it occurred to him: "Of those in the world who are arahants or who have entered upon the path to arahantship, this bhikkhu is surely one. Suppose I were to approach this bhikkhu and ask: 'On account of whom, friend, have you gone forth? Who is your teacher? Whose Dhamma do you profess?'" Then it occurred to Sāriputta the wanderer: "It is not the time to question this bhikkhu; he has entered among the houses and is walking for alms. Suppose I were to follow close behind this bhikkhu — the way made known by those who seek." Then the Venerable Assaji, having walked for alms in Rājagaha, took his almsfood and returned. Then Sāriputta the wanderer approached the Venerable Assaji; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Venerable Assaji, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, Sāriputta the wanderer said this to the Venerable Assaji: "Serene, friend, are your faculties; pure and bright is the color of your skin. On account of whom, friend, have you gone forth? Who is your teacher? Whose Dhamma do you profess?"
"There is, friend, the Great Ascetic, the son of the Sakyans, gone forth from the Sakyan clan. On account of that Blessed One I have gone forth; that Blessed One is my teacher; and it is that Blessed One's Dhamma that I profess."
"But what does the venerable one's teacher declare? What does he proclaim?"
"I am new, friend, not long gone forth, only recently come to this Dhamma and Discipline. I am not able to teach you the Dhamma in detail, but I shall tell you its meaning in brief."
"Speak little or much,
but tell me just the meaning;
it is the meaning alone that I need —
why should you make many words?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.