[338] Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Nāḷandā, in Pāvārika's Mango Grove. Then Kevaṭṭa, the householder's son, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Kevaṭṭa the householder's son said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, this Nāḷandā is prosperous and flourishing, populous, crowded with people, and they have great confidence in the Blessed One. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would direct one bhikkhu who will perform a marvel of psychic power (iddhipāṭihāriya), a state surpassing that of ordinary humans (uttarimanussadhamma). In this way, this Nāḷandā would have confidence in the Blessed One to an even greater measure."
When this was said, the Blessed One said to Kevaṭṭa the householder's son: "Kevaṭṭa, I do not teach the Dhamma to the bhikkhus thus: 'Come, bhikkhus, perform for the white-clothed laypeople a marvel of psychic power, a state surpassing that of ordinary humans.'"
For a second time Kevaṭṭa the householder's son said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I do not presume to constrain the Blessed One; I only say this: Venerable sir, this Nāḷandā is prosperous and flourishing, populous, crowded with people, and they have great confidence in the Blessed One. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would direct one bhikkhu who will perform a marvel of psychic power, a state surpassing that of ordinary humans. In this way, this Nāḷandā would have confidence in the Blessed One to an even greater measure."
For a third time … [elided in the Pali]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.