[368] Then the brahmin students Vāseṭṭha and Bhāradvāja approached the Blessed One; having approached, they exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and when they had concluded the courteous talk fit to be remembered, they sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the brahmin student Vāseṭṭha said this to the Blessed One: "Worthy Gotama, here as we were walking up and down and wandering about, taking a walk for exercise, a conversation arose concerning what is the path and what is not the path. I speak thus: 'This alone is the straight path, this is the direct way, leading out, leading one who practices accordingly to companionship with Brahmā (brahmasahabyatā) — namely, that declared by the brahmin Pokkharasāti.' The brahmin student Bhāradvāja speaks thus: 'This alone is the straight path, this is the direct way, leading out, leading one who practices accordingly to companionship with Brahmā — namely, that declared by the brahmin Tārukkha.' Herein, worthy Gotama, there is indeed a dispute, there is a disagreement, there is a difference of opinion."
"So it seems, Vāseṭṭha, that you speak thus: 'This alone is the straight path, this is the direct way, leading out, leading one who practices accordingly to companionship with Brahmā — namely, that declared by the brahmin Pokkharasāti'; and the brahmin student Bhāradvāja speaks thus: 'This alone is the straight path, this is the direct way, leading out, leading one who practices accordingly to companionship with Brahmā — namely, that declared by the brahmin Tārukkha.' Then in what, Vāseṭṭha, is your dispute, in what your disagreement, in what your difference of opinion?"
"Concerning what is the path and what is not the path, worthy Gotama. Although, worthy Gotama, the brahmins declare various paths — the Addhariya brahmins, the Tittiriya brahmins, the Chandoka brahmins, the Bavharidhā brahmins — nevertheless all those paths lead out, leading one who practices accordingly to companionship with Brahmā. Just as, worthy Gotama, in the vicinity of a village or a town, even if there are many various paths, nevertheless all of them converge upon the village; even so, worthy Gotama, although the brahmins declare various paths — the Addhariya brahmins, the Tittiriya brahmins, the Chandoka brahmins, the Bavharidhā brahmins — nevertheless all those paths lead out, leading one who practices accordingly to companionship with Brahmā."
"'They lead out,' Vāseṭṭha — is that what you say?"
"'They lead out,' worthy Gotama — that is what I say."
"'They lead out,' Vāseṭṭha — is that what you say?"
"'They lead out,' worthy Gotama — that is what I say."
"'They lead out,' Vāseṭṭha — is that what you say?"
"'They lead out,' worthy Gotama — that is what I say."
Questioning Vāseṭṭha
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.