[378] Now at that time people had climbed up and remained upon the mansions, upon the flat-roofed buildings, and upon the rooftops. Among them, those people who were without faith, without confidence, and of poor intelligence spoke thus: "Handsome indeed, sirs, is the great ascetic Gotama—he will be harmed by the elephant."
But those people who had faith and confidence, who were wise and intelligent, spoke thus: "Before long, sirs, the nāga will do battle with the nāga."
Then the Blessed One suffused the elephant Nāḷāgiri with a mind (citta) of loving-kindness. Then the elephant Nāḷāgiri, touched by the Blessed One's mind of loving-kindness, lowered his trunk, approached the Blessed One, and having approached, stood before the Blessed One.
Then the Blessed One, stroking the elephant Nāḷāgiri's forehead-globe with his right hand, addressed the elephant Nāḷāgiri in verses:
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.