[339] "Kevaṭṭa, there are these three miracles (pāṭihāriya) which I have proclaimed, having realized them myself with direct knowledge (abhiññā). What three? The miracle of psychic power (iddhipāṭihāriya), the miracle of mind-reading (ādesanāpāṭihāriya), and the miracle of instruction (anusāsanipāṭihāriya).
"And what, Kevaṭṭa, is the miracle of psychic power? Here, Kevaṭṭa, a bhikkhu wields the various kinds of psychic power: having been one, he becomes many; having been many, he becomes one; he appears and vanishes; he goes unimpeded through a wall, through a rampart, through a mountain, as if through space; he dives in and out of the earth as if it were water; he walks upon water without it breaking, as if upon earth; seated cross-legged he travels through the air like a winged bird; with his hand he touches and strokes even this moon and sun, so mighty and so powerful; he exercises mastery with his body even as far as the Brahmā world.
"Then someone with faith and confidence sees that bhikkhu wielding the various kinds of psychic power: having been one, becoming many; having been many, becoming one; appearing and vanishing; going unimpeded through a wall, through a rampart, through a mountain, as if through space; diving in and out of the earth as if it were water; walking upon water without it breaking, as if upon earth; travelling cross-legged through the air like a winged bird; touching and stroking with his hand even this moon and sun, so mighty and so powerful; exercising mastery with his body even as far as the Brahmā world.
"Then that person of faith and confidence reports it to someone else without faith and confidence: 'Wonderful indeed, sir! Marvellous indeed, sir, is the great psychic power, the great might of the ascetic! I myself saw this bhikkhu wielding the various kinds of psychic power: having been one, becoming many; having been many, becoming one … exercising mastery with his body even as far as the Brahmā world.'
"Then that one without faith and confidence might say to that person of faith and confidence: 'There is, sir, a charm called Gandhārī; it is by means of that charm that this bhikkhu wields the various kinds of psychic power … exercises mastery with his body even as far as the Brahmā world.'
"What do you think, Kevaṭṭa? Might not that one without faith and confidence say this to that person of faith and confidence?"
"He might say so, venerable sir."
"It is because I see this very danger in the miracle of psychic power, Kevaṭṭa, that I am troubled by, ashamed of, and disgusted with the miracle of psychic power."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.