[1] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Rājagaha, on Mount Gijjhakūṭa. Now at that time King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha exercised lordship and sovereignty, ruling over eighty thousand village headmen (gāmika). And at that time in Campā there was a merchant's son named Soṇa Koḷivisa, delicately nurtured; hairs had grown on the soles of his feet. Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, having had those eighty thousand village headmen assembled, sent a messenger to Soṇa Koḷivisa on some business or other, saying: "Let Soṇa come; I wish for Soṇa's coming." Then the mother and father of Soṇa Koḷivisa said this to Soṇa Koḷivisa: "Dear Soṇa, the king wishes to see your feet. Take care, dear Soṇa: do not stretch out your feet toward where the king is; sit cross-legged before the king, and as you sit the king will see your feet." Then they brought Soṇa Koḷivisa in a palanquin. Then Soṇa Koḷivisa approached King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha; having approached and paid homage to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, he sat cross-legged before the king. And King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha saw the hairs grown on the soles of Soṇa Koḷivisa's feet.
[2] Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, having instructed those eighty thousand village headmen in benefits pertaining to the present life, dismissed them, saying: "You, sirs, have been instructed by me in benefits pertaining to the present life. Go and attend upon the Blessed One; that Blessed One of ours will instruct you in benefits pertaining to the life to come." Then those eighty thousand village headmen approached Mount Gijjhakūṭa.
Now at that time the Venerable Sāgata was the attendant of the Blessed One. Then those eighty thousand village headmen approached the Venerable Sāgata; having approached, they said this to the Venerable Sāgata: "Venerable sir, these eighty thousand village headmen have come here to see the Blessed One. It would be good, venerable sir, if we might obtain sight of the Blessed One." "Well then, sirs, remain right here for a moment while I announce you to the Blessed One." Then the Venerable Sāgata, before the eyes of those eighty thousand village headmen as they looked on, plunged down into the stone slab (pāṭikā) and emerged before the Blessed One, and said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, these eighty thousand village headmen have come here to see the Blessed One. Now, venerable sir, may the Blessed One do as he thinks fit." "Well then, Sāgata, prepare a seat in the shade of the dwelling." "Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Sāgata replied to the Blessed One; and taking a stool, he plunged down before the Blessed One and, before the eyes of those eighty thousand village headmen as they looked on, emerged from the stone slab and prepared a seat in the shade of the dwelling.
Then the Blessed One came out of the dwelling and sat down on the seat prepared in the shade of the dwelling. Then those eighty thousand village headmen approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. And those eighty thousand village headmen gave their attention only to the Venerable Sāgata, and not likewise to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, knowing with his own mind the reflection in the minds of those eighty thousand village headmen, addressed the Venerable Sāgata: "Well then, Sāgata, display to a still greater degree a marvel of psychic power, a superhuman state." "Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Sāgata replied to the Blessed One; and rising into the air, in the sky, in the firmament, he walked, and stood, and sat, and lay down, and emitted smoke, and blazed, and vanished. Then the Venerable Sāgata, having displayed in the sky, in the firmament, various marvels of psychic power, superhuman states, prostrated himself with his head at the feet of the Blessed One and said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the Blessed One is my teacher; I am a disciple. Venerable sir, the Blessed One is my teacher; I am a disciple." Then those eighty thousand village headmen, saying, "It is wonderful indeed, sirs! It is marvellous indeed, sirs! If even a disciple can be of such great psychic power, of such great might, how much more, surely, the Teacher!"—gave their attention only to the Blessed One, and not likewise to the Venerable Sāgata.
Then the Blessed One, knowing with his own mind the reflection in the minds of those eighty thousand village headmen, gave a progressive discourse (anupubbikathā), that is to say: he made known talk on giving, talk on virtue, talk on the heavens; the danger, the degradation, and the defilement of sensual pleasures; and the benefit in renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that their minds were ready, malleable, free from the hindrances (nīvaraṇa), uplifted, and confident, then he made known that Dhamma teaching which the Buddhas themselves have discovered and exalted: suffering (dukkha), its origin, its cessation, the path. Just as a clean cloth, free from stains, would take the dye evenly, even so, in those eighty thousand village headmen, on that very seat, there arose the dust-free, stainless vision of the Dhamma (dhammacakkhu): "Whatever is subject to origination, all that is subject to cessation."
Then they, having seen the Dhamma, attained the Dhamma, understood the Dhamma, penetrated the Dhamma, having crossed beyond doubt, with perplexity gone, having attained self-confidence, independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation, said this to the Blessed One: "Excellent, venerable sir! Excellent, venerable sir! Just as, venerable sir, one might set upright what has been overturned, or uncover what has been concealed, or point out the way to one who is lost, or hold up an oil lamp in the darkness, thinking, 'Those with eyes will see forms'—even so has the Dhamma been made known by the Blessed One in many ways. We, venerable sir, go to the Blessed One for refuge, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the Blessed One remember us as lay followers (upāsaka) who have gone for refuge for life, from this day forward."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.