[71] The Blessed One saw Sāriputta and Moggallāna coming while still far off. Having seen them, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, these two friends are coming — Kolita and Upatissa. This will be my pair of disciples — the foremost, an auspicious pair."
Liberated in the profound domain of knowledge (ñāṇa),
in the unsurpassed destruction of acquisitions (upadhi),
they had not yet reached the Veḷuvana
when the Teacher declared of them:
"These two friends are coming —
Kolita and Upatissa.
This will be my pair of disciples —
the foremost, an auspicious pair."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.