[372] Now at that time the Blessed One was walking in meditation in the shade of Mount Gijjhakūṭa. Then Devadatta, having climbed Mount Gijjhakūṭa, hurled down a great rock, thinking, "With this I will deprive the ascetic Gotama of life." Two mountain peaks, coming together, caught that rock; but a splinter, flying up from it, drew blood on the foot of the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, looking upward, said this to Devadatta: "Much demerit have you generated, foolish man, in that with a malicious mind, a murderous mind, you have caused the Tathāgata's blood to flow." Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, this is the first deed with immediate result (ānantarika-kamma) accumulated by Devadatta, in that with a malicious mind, a murderous mind, he caused the Tathāgata's blood to flow."
The bhikkhus heard: "It seems that Devadatta has plotted the murder of the Blessed One." And those bhikkhus walked back and forth on every side around the Blessed One's dwelling, making recitation with loud noise and great noise, for the guarding, sheltering, and protection of the Blessed One. The Blessed One heard the loud noise, the great noise, the noise of recitation, and having heard it, he addressed the venerable Ānanda: "Ānanda, what is this loud noise, this great noise, this noise of recitation?"
"Venerable sir, the bhikkhus have heard: 'It seems that Devadatta has plotted the murder of the Blessed One.' And those bhikkhus, venerable sir, are walking back and forth on every side around the Blessed One's dwelling, making recitation with loud noise and great noise, for the guarding, sheltering, and protection of the Blessed One. That, Blessed One, is the loud noise, the great noise, the noise of recitation."
"Then, Ānanda, address those bhikkhus in my name: 'The Teacher summons the venerable ones.'"
"Yes, venerable sir," the venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and he approached those bhikkhus; having approached, he said this to those bhikkhus: "The Teacher summons the venerable ones."
"Yes, friend," those bhikkhus replied to the venerable Ānanda, and they approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. As those bhikkhus were seated to one side, the Blessed One said this to them: "It is impossible, bhikkhus, it cannot come to pass, that anyone should deprive a Tathāgata of life by another's assault; not by another's assault, bhikkhus, do Tathāgatas attain final Nibbāna.
"Bhikkhus, there are these five teachers found existing in the world. Which five? Here, bhikkhus, a certain teacher, being impure in virtue (sīla), claims: 'I am pure in virtue,' and: 'My virtue is pure, cleansed, undefiled.' His disciples know him thus: 'This worthy teacher, being impure in virtue, claims: "I am pure in virtue," and: "My virtue is pure, cleansed, undefiled." But if we were to inform the householders, it would not be pleasing to him; and how could we treat him with what is displeasing to him? Moreover, he is honoured with the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicines for the sick; whatever he himself does, by that he himself will be known.' Such a teacher, bhikkhus, his disciples protect with respect to virtue; and such a teacher expects protection from his disciples with respect to virtue."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.