Dighanikaya 3.286

3.286

Idāni yasmā te porāṇā dasa brāhmaṇā nirāmagandhā anitthigandhā rajojalladharā brahmacārino araññāyatane pabbatapādesu vanamūlaphalāhārā vasiṃsu. Yadā katthaci gantukāmā honti, iddhiyā ākāseneva gacchanti, natthi tesaṃ yānena kiccaṃ. Sabbadisāsu ca nesaṃ mettādibrahmavihārabhāvanāva ārakkhā hoti, natthi tesaṃ pākārapurisaguttīhi attho. Iminā ca ambaṭṭhena sutapubbā tesaṃ paṭipatti; tasmā imassa sācariyakassa tesaṃ paṭipattito ārakabhāvaṃ dassetuṃ – ‘‘taṃ kiṃ maññasi, ambaṭṭhā’’tiādimāha.

Now, those ten ancient brahmins lived free of the stench of raw meat, free of the stench of women, covered in dust and dirt, leading the holy life, dwelling in wilderness abodes at the foot of mountains, subsisting on roots and fruits of the forest. Whenever they wished to go anywhere, they went through the sky by psychic power; they had no need for a vehicle. And in all directions, their cultivation of the divine abodes such as loving-kindness was their protection; they had no use for guards, walls, or men. Furthermore, this Ambaṭṭha had heard before of their practice; therefore, in order to show that this [man] together with his teacher was far removed from their practice, he said: “What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?” and so forth.