[276] Now at that time the wanderer Poṭṭhapāda was seated with a large assembly of wanderers, making an uproar, a great clamour of loud voices, engaged in various kinds of pointless talk (tiracchānakathā), namely: talk of kings, talk of thieves, talk of ministers, talk of armies, talk of dangers, talk of battles, talk of food, talk of drink, talk of clothing, talk of beds, talk of garlands, talk of scents, talk of relatives, talk of vehicles, talk of villages, talk of market towns, talk of cities, talk of countries, talk of women, talk of men, talk of liquor, talk of streets, talk of wells, talk of the departed, miscellaneous talk, speculation about the world, speculation about the sea, and talk of existence thus and otherwise.
The wanderer Poṭṭhapāda saw the Blessed One coming from afar; and having seen him, he quieted his own assembly: "Let the venerable sirs be quiet; make no sound, sirs. This ascetic Gotama is coming. That venerable one is fond of quiet and speaks in praise of quiet. Perhaps, finding the assembly quiet, he may see fit to approach." When this was said, those wanderers fell silent.
[Editions note: The Siam Raṭṭha edition reads 'surākathaṁ' ('talk of liquor') and includes 'purisakathaṁ' ('talk of men'); the Mahāsaṅgīti and PTS editions read 'sūrakathaṁ' ('talk of heroes') without it. This translation follows the Siam Raṭṭha reading.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.