[260] Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Ujuññā, in the deer park at Kaṇṇakathala. Then the naked ascetic (acela) Kassapa approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, the naked ascetic Kassapa said to the Blessed One: "Worthy Gotama, I have heard this: 'The ascetic Gotama criticizes all austerity (tapa); he categorically reviles and reproaches every practitioner of austerities (tapassī) who lives a rough life (lūkhājīvī).' Worthy Gotama, do those who say, 'The ascetic Gotama criticizes all austerity; he categorically reviles and reproaches every practitioner of austerities who lives a rough life,' speak in accordance with what the worthy Gotama has said? Do they not misrepresent the worthy Gotama with what is untrue? Do they explain in accordance with the Dhamma, so that no legitimate consequence of their assertion comes to a ground deserving censure? For we have no wish to misrepresent the worthy Gotama."
"Kassapa, those who say, 'The ascetic Gotama criticizes all austerity; he categorically reviles and reproaches every practitioner of austerities who lives a rough life,' do not speak in accordance with what I have said; they misrepresent me with what is false and untrue.
"Here, Kassapa, with the divine eye (dibbacakkhu), purified and surpassing the human, I see a certain practitioner of austerities living a rough life who, on the breaking up of the body, after death, has been reborn in a state of deprivation, a bad destination, a place of ruin, hell. But here, Kassapa, with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human, I see a certain practitioner of austerities living a rough life who, on the breaking up of the body, after death, has been reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world. Here again, Kassapa, with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human, I see a certain practitioner of austerities who dwells with little hardship who, on the breaking up of the body, after death, has been reborn in a state of deprivation, a bad destination, a place of ruin, hell. And here, Kassapa, with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human, I see a certain practitioner of austerities who dwells with little hardship who, on the breaking up of the body, after death, has been reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world. Since I, Kassapa, understand as it really is (yathābhūta) the coming and the going, the passing away and the rebirth of these practitioners of austerities in this way, how should I criticize all austerity, or categorically revile and reproach every practitioner of austerities who lives a rough life?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.