[2] Then the Blessed One, on account of that incident, in that connection, having had the Saṅgha of bhikkhus (bhikkhu) convened, questioned the bhikkhus: "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that the bhikkhus who are followers of Paṇḍuka and Lohitaka, being themselves makers of strife, makers of quarrels, makers of disputes, makers of contentious talk, makers of legal issues (adhikaraṇa) in the Saṅgha, approach other bhikkhus who are likewise makers of strife, makers of quarrels, makers of disputes, makers of contentious talk, makers of legal issues in the Saṅgha, and say to them: 'Venerables, do not let this one defeat you. Argue back forcefully, strength against strength, for you are wiser than he, more competent, more learned, and more capable. And do not be afraid of him — we too shall be your partisans' — so that thereby strifes not yet arisen arise, and strifes already arisen lead to increase and expansion?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "It is unbefitting, bhikkhus, of those foolish men (moghapurisa), unsuitable, improper, unworthy of an ascetic, not allowable, not to be done. How indeed, bhikkhus, can those foolish men, being themselves makers of strife … makers of legal issues in the Saṅgha, approach other bhikkhus who are makers of strife … makers of legal issues in the Saṅgha, and say to them: 'Venerables, do not let this one defeat you. Argue back forcefully, strength against strength, for you are wiser than he, more competent, more learned, and more capable. And do not be afraid of him — we too shall be your partisans' — so that thereby strifes not yet arisen arise, and strifes already arisen lead to increase and expansion? This, bhikkhus, is neither for the confidence of those without confidence, nor for the increase of those who have confidence; rather, bhikkhus, this is for the lack of confidence of those without confidence, and for the vacillation of some who have confidence."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.