[9] Then the Blessed One, having understood the Brahmā's request, and out of compassion (kāruññatā) for beings, surveyed the world with the eye of a Buddha (buddhacakkhu). Surveying the world with the eye of a Buddha, the Blessed One saw beings with little dust in their eyes and with much dust in their eyes, with keen faculties and with dull faculties, of good disposition and of bad disposition, easy to instruct and hard to instruct, and some who dwell seeing fear in wrongdoing and in the world beyond.
Just as, in a pond of blue lotuses, or a pond of red lotuses, or a pond of white lotuses, some blue lotuses, red lotuses, or white lotuses, born in the water and grown in the water, do not rise up out of the water but thrive submerged within it; some blue lotuses, red lotuses, or white lotuses, born in the water and grown in the water, stand level with the water; and some blue lotuses, red lotuses, or white lotuses, born in the water and grown in the water, rise up above the water and stand unwetted by the water — even so did the Blessed One, surveying the world with the eye of a Buddha, see beings with little dust in their eyes and with much dust in their eyes, with keen faculties and with dull faculties, of good disposition and of bad disposition, easy to instruct and hard to instruct, and some who dwell seeing fear in wrongdoing and in the world beyond.
Having seen this, he addressed Brahmā Sahampati in verse:
"Open for them are the doors of the Deathless (amata);
let those who have ears release their faith.
Perceiving vexation, O Brahmā, I did not speak
among humans the sublime Dhamma in which I am well-versed."
Then Brahmā Sahampati, thinking, "The opportunity has been granted me by the Blessed One for the teaching of the Dhamma," paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side toward him, and vanished right there.
The Account of Brahmā's Request is concluded.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.