[366] Then Devadatta approached Prince Ajātasattu; and having approached, he said this to Prince Ajātasattu: "Formerly, prince, people were long-lived; now they are short-lived. It is possible that you might die while still a prince. Therefore, prince, you kill your father and become king; I will kill the Blessed One and become the Buddha."
Then Prince Ajātasattu, thinking, "Master Devadatta is of great psychic power, of great majesty; Master Devadatta would surely know," bound a dagger to his thigh and, frightened, agitated, apprehensive, and terrified, hurriedly entered the inner palace in broad daylight. The chief ministers who guarded the inner palace saw Prince Ajātasattu, frightened, agitated, apprehensive, and terrified, hurriedly entering the inner palace in broad daylight, and having seen him, they seized him. Searching him, they saw the dagger bound to his thigh, and they said this to Prince Ajātasattu: "What do you wish to do, prince?"
"I wish to kill my father."
"By whom were you instigated?"
"By Master Devadatta."
Some chief ministers gave this opinion: "The prince should be killed, and Devadatta, and all the bhikkhus should be killed."
Some chief ministers gave this opinion: "The bhikkhus should not be killed; the bhikkhus have done no wrong. The prince should be killed, and Devadatta."
Some chief ministers gave this opinion: "Neither the prince should be killed, nor Devadatta, nor the bhikkhus. The king should be informed; as the king directs, so shall we do."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.