[182] When this was said, the brahmin Soṇadaṇḍa said to those brahmins: "Well then, sirs, hear from me too why it is we who are worthy to go to see the worthy Gotama, and it is not fitting that the worthy Gotama should come to see us.
The ascetic Gotama, sirs, is well born on both sides, on the mother's side and on the father's side, of pure descent from the womb back through seven generations of forefathers, unimpugned and irreproachable with respect to birth. And since, sirs, the ascetic Gotama is well born on both sides, on the mother's side and on the father's side, of pure descent from the womb back through seven generations of forefathers, unimpugned and irreproachable with respect to birth — for this reason too it is not fitting that the worthy Gotama should come to see us; rather, it is we who are worthy to go to see the worthy Gotama.
The ascetic Gotama, sirs, went forth having abandoned a great company of relatives. … The ascetic Gotama, sirs, went forth having abandoned abundant bullion and gold, both stored underground and set above ground. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, went forth from the household life into homelessness while still young, a black-haired young man endowed with the blessing of youth, in the first stage of life. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, though his mother and father were unwilling and wept with tearful faces, shaved off his hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and went forth from the household life into homelessness. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, is handsome, comely, and inspiring, endowed with supreme beauty of complexion, with the complexion of Brahmā and a presence like Brahmā's, of no mean appearance to behold. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, is virtuous, of noble virtue, of wholesome virtue, endowed with wholesome virtue. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, has fine speech and a fine delivery; he is endowed with urbane speech, distinct, flawless, and making the meaning clear. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, is the teacher of the teachers of many. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, has destroyed sensual lust and is rid of frivolity. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, asserts the doctrine of kamma, asserts the doctrine of the efficacy of deeds; he intends no evil toward the race of brahmins. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, went forth from a high family, from an unbroken khattiya family. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, went forth from a rich family, of great wealth and great possessions. To the ascetic Gotama, sirs, people come from other realms and other countries to ask questions. To the ascetic Gotama, sirs, many thousands of deities have gone for refuge with their lives. About the ascetic Gotama, sirs, this fair report of fame has spread abroad: 'That Blessed One is an Arahant, perfectly self-awakened, accomplished in true knowledge (vijjā) and conduct, the Fortunate One, knower of the world, unsurpassed charioteer of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, the Awakened One, the Blessed One.' The ascetic Gotama, sirs, is endowed with the thirty-two marks of a great man. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, is one who bids welcome, congenial, courteous, without a frown, open of countenance, the first to speak. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, is honored, respected, esteemed, venerated, and revered by the four assemblies. In the ascetic Gotama, sirs, many gods and humans have great confidence. In whatever village or town the ascetic Gotama dwells, sirs, in that village or town non-human beings do not harass human beings. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, is the head of an order, the head of a following, the teacher of a following, and is declared the foremost of the many founders of sects; and whereas, sirs, those ascetics and brahmins come by their fame in whatever haphazard way, not so has the ascetic Gotama's fame come about: rather, the ascetic Gotama's fame has come about through his unsurpassed accomplishment in true knowledge and conduct. To the ascetic Gotama, sirs, Seniya Bimbisāra, king of Magadha, together with his sons and wives, his retinue and ministers, has gone for refuge with his life. To the ascetic Gotama, sirs, King Pasenadi of Kosala, together with his sons and wives, his retinue and ministers, has gone for refuge with his life. To the ascetic Gotama, sirs, the brahmin Pokkharasāti, together with his sons and wives, his retinue and ministers, has gone for refuge with his life. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, is honored, respected, esteemed, venerated, and revered by Seniya Bimbisāra, king of Magadha. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, is honored, respected, esteemed, venerated, and revered by King Pasenadi of Kosala. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, is honored, respected, esteemed, venerated, and revered by the brahmin Pokkharasāti. The ascetic Gotama, sirs, has arrived at Campā and is dwelling at Campā on the bank of the Gaggarā lotus pond. Now, sirs, whatever ascetics or brahmins come into our village domain, they are our guests; and guests are to be honored, respected, esteemed, venerated, and revered by us. And since, sirs, the ascetic Gotama has arrived at Campā and is dwelling at Campā on the bank of the Gaggarā lotus pond, the ascetic Gotama is our guest; and a guest is to be honored, respected, esteemed, venerated, and revered by us — for this reason too it is not fitting that the worthy Gotama should come to see us; rather, it is we who are worthy to go to see the worthy Gotama.
This much of the worthy Gotama's praise have I learned; but the worthy Gotama's praise is not merely this much, for the worthy Gotama's praise is immeasurable."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.