[369] Then that lone man, taking up his sword and shield, and strapping on his bow and quiver, approached the Blessed One; and having approached, he stood not far from the Blessed One — frightened, agitated, apprehensive, terrified, his body rigid. The Blessed One saw that man standing there frightened, agitated, apprehensive, terrified, his body rigid; and having seen him, he said to that man: "Come, friend, do not be afraid."
Then that man, setting his sword and shield to one side and laying down his bow and quiver, approached the Blessed One; and having approached, he prostrated himself with his head at the Blessed One's feet and said to the Blessed One: "A transgression (accaya) overcame me, venerable sir — so foolish, so muddled, so unskillful was I — in that I came here with a corrupt mind, with a mind intent on murder. Venerable sir, may the Blessed One accept my transgression as a transgression, for the sake of restraint in the future."
"Come now, friend, a transgression overcame you — so foolish, so muddled, so unskillful were you — in that you came here with a corrupt mind, with a mind intent on murder. But since you, friend, having seen your transgression as a transgression, make amends in accordance with the Dhamma, we accept it of you. For this, friend, is growth in the discipline of the noble ones: that one who, having seen a transgression as a transgression, makes amends in accordance with the Dhamma, undertakes restraint in the future."
Then the Blessed One gave that man a progressive talk (anupubbikathā), that is to say: talk on giving, talk on virtue, talk on the heavens; he made known the danger, the degradation, and the defilement of sensual pleasures, and the benefit in renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that his mind was ready, malleable, free from the hindrances (nīvaraṇa), uplifted, and confident, then he made known that Dhamma teaching which the Buddhas themselves have discovered and proclaimed: suffering (dukkha), its origin, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth from which all stains have been removed would take dye evenly, even so, in that very seat, there arose in that man the dustless, stainless eye of Dhamma (dhammacakkhu): "Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation."
Then that man — having seen the Dhamma, attained the Dhamma, understood the Dhamma, plunged into the Dhamma, having crossed beyond doubt (vicikicchā), with perplexity gone, having attained self-confidence, independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation — said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, venerable sir! Excellent, venerable sir! Just as one might set upright what had been overturned, or uncover what was covered, or point out the way to one who was lost, or hold up an oil lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes might see forms — even so has the Dhamma been made known by the Blessed One in many ways. Venerable sir, I go to the Blessed One for refuge, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower (upāsaka) who has gone for refuge for life, from this day forward."
Then the Blessed One said to that man: "Friend, do not go by this road; go by this road" — and he dismissed him by another road.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.