[367] Then those chief ministers, taking Prince Ajātasattu, approached King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha; and having approached, they informed King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha of this matter.
"How, I say, have the chief ministers decided?"
"Some chief ministers, sire, decided thus: 'The prince should be put to death, and Devadatta, and all the bhikkhus should be put to death.' Some chief ministers decided thus: 'The bhikkhus should not be put to death — the bhikkhus have committed no offense whatever — but the prince should be put to death, and Devadatta.' Some chief ministers decided thus: 'Neither the prince should be put to death, nor Devadatta, nor should the bhikkhus be put to death; the king should be informed, and as the king commands, so shall we do.'"
"What, I say, could the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha have done? Did not the Blessed One have Devadatta publicly proclaimed in Rājagaha beforehand, saying: 'Formerly Devadatta's nature was one thing; now his nature is another. Whatever Devadatta may do by body or by speech, neither the Buddha nor the Dhamma nor the Saṅgha is to be regarded thereby; Devadatta alone is to be regarded thereby'?"
Thereupon, those chief ministers who had decided thus: 'The prince should be put to death, and Devadatta, and all the bhikkhus should be put to death' — these he deprived of their posts.¹ Those chief ministers who had decided thus: 'The bhikkhus should not be put to death — the bhikkhus have committed no offense whatever — but the prince should be put to death, and Devadatta' — these he placed in low positions. Those chief ministers who had decided thus: 'Neither the prince should be put to death, nor Devadatta, nor should the bhikkhus be put to death; the king should be informed, and as the king commands, so shall we do' — these he placed in high positions.
Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha said this to Prince Ajātasattu: "Why, prince, did you wish to kill me?"
"I desire the kingdom, sire."
"If, prince, you desire the kingdom, this kingdom is yours." And he handed over the kingdom to Prince Ajātasattu.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.