[377] Now at that time in Rājagaha there was an elephant named Nāḷāgiri, fierce, a slayer of men. Then Devadatta, having entered Rājagaha and gone to the elephant stable, said this to the mahouts: "We, good sirs, being kinsmen of the king, are able to place one who is in a low position in a high position, and to have both food-allowance and wages increased. Therefore, good sirs, when the ascetic Gotama has entered upon this carriage-road, then release this elephant Nāḷāgiri and send him down this road." "Yes, venerable sir," those mahouts assented to Devadatta.
Then the Blessed One, in the morning, having dressed and taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha together with a number of bhikkhus. Then the Blessed One entered upon that road. The mahouts saw the Blessed One entering upon that road; having seen him, they released the elephant Nāḷāgiri and set him upon that road. The elephant Nāḷāgiri saw the Blessed One coming from afar; having seen him, raising his trunk, with ears and tail erect, he charged toward the Blessed One. Those bhikkhus saw the elephant Nāḷāgiri coming from afar; having seen him, they said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, this elephant Nāḷāgiri, fierce, savage, a slayer of men, has entered upon this road. Let the Blessed One turn back, venerable sir; let the Sugata turn back."
"Come, bhikkhus, do not be afraid. It is impossible, bhikkhus, there is no occasion, that anyone could deprive a Tathāgata of life by the assault of another; Tathāgatas, bhikkhus, do not attain final Nibbāna (parinibbāyanti) through the assault of another."
A second time those bhikkhus … A third time those bhikkhus said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, this elephant Nāḷāgiri, fierce, savage, a slayer of men, has entered upon this road. Let the Blessed One turn back, venerable sir; let the Sugata turn back."
"Come, bhikkhus, do not be afraid. It is impossible, bhikkhus, there is no occasion, that anyone could deprive a Tathāgata of life by the assault of another; Tathāgatas, bhikkhus, do not attain final Nibbāna through the assault of another."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.