[381] Now at that time people were singing this verse:
Some tame with a stick, with goads and with whips;
Without a stick, without a weapon, was the elephant (nāga) tamed by the Great Seer.
People complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How evil is this Devadatta, how luckless, in that he would go so far as to attempt the murder of the ascetic Gotama, one of such great psychic power, of such great majesty!" Devadatta's gain and honor declined, while the Blessed One's gain and honor increased.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.