[641] Then, as the elder bhikkhus were conferring together, this occurred to them: "This legal issue (adhikaraṇa) is harsh and fierce. How, then, might we gain a faction whereby we would be the stronger party in this legal issue?"
Now at that time the Venerable Revata was residing at Soreyya — learned, one to whom the scriptural tradition had been handed down, an expert in the Dhamma, an expert in the Vinaya, an expert in the summaries (mātikā), wise, competent, intelligent, conscientious, scrupulous, and desirous of the training. Then this occurred to the elder bhikkhus: "This Venerable Revata is residing at Soreyya — learned, one to whom the scriptural tradition has been handed down, an expert in the Dhamma, an expert in the Vinaya, an expert in the summaries, wise, competent, intelligent, conscientious, scrupulous, and desirous of the training. If we gain the Venerable Revata for our faction, thus we shall be the stronger party in this legal issue."
The Venerable Revata, with the divine ear element (dibbā sotadhātu), purified and surpassing the human, heard the elder bhikkhus as they were conferring. Having heard, this occurred to him: "This legal issue is harsh and fierce. It is not fitting for me that I should draw back from such a legal issue. Yet now those bhikkhus will come, and crowded about by them I shall not dwell at ease. What if I were to go on ahead beforehand?"
Then the Venerable Revata went from Soreyya to Saṅkassa. Then the elder bhikkhus, having gone to Soreyya, asked: "Where is the Venerable Revata?" They said this: "That Venerable Revata has gone to Saṅkassa." Then the Venerable Revata went from Saṅkassa to Kaṇṇakujja. Then the elder bhikkhus, having gone to Saṅkassa, asked: "Where is the Venerable Revata?" They said this: "That Venerable Revata has gone to Kaṇṇakujja." Then the Venerable Revata went from Kaṇṇakujja to Udumbara. Then the elder bhikkhus, having gone to Kaṇṇakujja, asked: "Where is the Venerable Revata?" They said this: "That Venerable Revata has gone to Udumbara." Then the Venerable Revata went from Udumbara to Aggaḷapura. Then the elder bhikkhus, having gone to Udumbara, asked: "Where is the Venerable Revata?" They said this: "That Venerable Revata has gone to Aggaḷapura." Then the Venerable Revata went from Aggaḷapura to Sahajāti. Then the elder bhikkhus, having gone to Aggaḷapura, asked: "Where is the Venerable Revata?" They said this: "That Venerable Revata has gone to Sahajāti." Then the elder bhikkhus caught up with the Venerable Revata at Sahajāti.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.