[261] Then the Blessed One, on that occasion and in that connection, had the community of bhikkhus assembled and questioned the bhikkhus: "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that bhikkhus who are pupils (antevāsika) of the group-of-six bhikkhus, going on ahead of the Saṅgha headed by the Buddha, appropriate the dwellings and appropriate the sleeping-places, saying: 'This will be for our preceptors (upajjhāya), this will be for our teachers (ācariya), this will be for us'?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Awakened One, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How, bhikkhus, can those foolish men (moghapurisa), going on ahead of the Saṅgha headed by the Buddha, appropriate the dwellings and appropriate the sleeping-places, saying: 'This will be for our preceptors, this will be for our teachers, this will be for us'? This, bhikkhus, is not for the arousing of faith in those without faith …" Having rebuked them and given a talk on the Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, who is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood?"
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who has gone forth from a khattiya family is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who has gone forth from a brahmin family is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who has gone forth from a householder family is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who is an expert in the Suttas (suttantika) is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who is a bearer of the Vinaya (vinayadhara) … he who is a speaker on the Dhamma (dhammakathika) is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who is an obtainer of the first absorption (jhāna) is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who is an obtainer of the second absorption is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who is an obtainer of the third absorption … he who is an obtainer of the fourth absorption is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who is a stream-enterer (sotāpanna) is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who is a once-returner (sakadāgāmī) … he who is a non-returner (anāgāmī) … he who is an arahant is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who possesses the three true knowledges (tevijja) is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
Some bhikkhus said this: "Blessed One, he who possesses the six direct knowledges (chaḷabhiñña) is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.