[143] Now at that time the brahmin Pokkharasāti had a resident pupil, a young brahmin named Ambaṭṭha — a reciter, a bearer of the mantras, one gone to the far shore of the three Vedas together with the Nighaṇḍu and Keṭubha, together with the analysis of letters, with the Itihāsa as fifth; skilled in the words, a grammarian, fully accomplished in the Lokāyata and in the marks of a great man; acknowledged and accepted by his own teacher in his teacher's own doctrine of the three Vedas, with the words: "What I know, you know; what you know, I know."
Then the brahmin Pokkharasāti addressed the young brahmin Ambaṭṭha: "Dear Ambaṭṭha, this ascetic Gotama, a son of the Sakyans, gone forth from a Sakyan family, wandering on tour among the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of bhikkhus, some five hundred bhikkhus, has arrived at Icchānaṅgala and is dwelling at Icchānaṅgala, in the Icchānaṅgala forest grove. Now concerning that worthy Gotama, such a fair report has spread abroad: 'Thus indeed is that Blessed One: an arahant, perfectly enlightened, accomplished in true knowledge (vijjā) and conduct, well-gone, knower of the world, unsurpassed charioteer of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, enlightened, blessed.' Having realized it himself with direct knowledge, he makes known this world with its gods, its Māras, and its Brahmās, this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its gods and humans. He teaches the Dhamma that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end; he proclaims the holy life, with its meaning and its phrasing, entirely complete and pure. And good indeed is the sight of such arahants.
Come, dear Ambaṭṭha, go to the ascetic Gotama and, having approached him, find out about the ascetic Gotama: whether the report that has spread abroad concerning that worthy Gotama is true as stated or not, and whether that worthy Gotama is such a one or not. In that way we shall come to know that worthy Gotama."
"But how, sir, shall I come to know concerning that worthy Gotama, whether the report that has spread abroad concerning that worthy Gotama is true as stated or not, and whether that worthy Gotama is such a one or not?"
"Dear Ambaṭṭha, the thirty-two marks of a great man have come down in our mantras; and for a great man endowed with them there are only two destinies, no other. If he dwells in the house, he becomes a king, a wheel-turning monarch, righteous, a king of Dhamma, lord of the four quarters, victorious, who has attained stability in his country, endowed with the seven treasures. These seven treasures are his, namely: the wheel-treasure, the elephant-treasure, the horse-treasure, the gem-treasure, the woman-treasure, the householder-treasure, and the counselor-treasure as the seventh. He has more than a thousand sons, heroes, of valiant form, crushers of enemy armies. Having conquered this earth bounded by the ocean — without rod, without sword, by Dhamma — he dwells over it. But if he goes forth from the home life into homelessness, he becomes an arahant, a perfectly enlightened Buddha, one who has drawn back the veil in the world.
And I, dear Ambaṭṭha, am the giver of the mantras; you are the receiver of the mantras."
"Yes, sir," the young brahmin Ambaṭṭha replied to the brahmin Pokkharasāti. Rising from his seat, he paid homage to the brahmin Pokkharasāti, circumambulated him keeping his right side towards him, mounted a chariot drawn by mares and, together with several young brahmins, set out for the Icchānaṅgala forest grove. Having gone by carriage as far as the ground was passable for a carriage, he descended from the carriage and entered the park on foot.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.