Pathikasutta 1.17

1.17.1

‘Rakkhatetaṃ, bhante, bhagavā vācaṃ, rakkhatetaṃ sugato vācan’ti.

‘Careful what you say, Blessed One! Careful what you say, Holy One!’

1.17.2

‘Kiṃ pana maṃ tvaṃ, sunakkhatta, evaṃ vadesi—

‘But why do you say this to me, Sunakkhatta?’

1.17.3

rakkhatetaṃ, bhante, bhagavā vācaṃ, rakkhatetaṃ sugato vācan’ti?

1.17.4

‘Bhagavatā cassa, bhante, esā vācā ekaṃsena odhāritā—

‘Sir, the Buddha has categorically asserted that

1.17.5

abhabbo acelo pāthikaputto taṃ vācaṃ appahāya taṃ cittaṃ appahāya taṃ diṭṭhiṃ appaṭinissajjitvā mama sammukhībhāvaṃ āgantuṃ.

Pāṭikaputta is not capable of meeting the Buddha face to face, otherwise

1.17.6

Sacepissa evamassa—

1.17.7

ahaṃ taṃ vācaṃ appahāya taṃ cittaṃ appahāya taṃ diṭṭhiṃ appaṭinissajjitvā samaṇassa gotamassa sammukhībhāvaṃ gaccheyyanti, muddhāpi tassa vipateyyāti.

his head may explode.

1.17.8

Acelo ca, bhante, pāthikaputto virūparūpena bhagavato sammukhībhāvaṃ āgaccheyya, tadassa bhagavato musā’ti.

But Pāṭikaputta might meet the Buddha face to face in disguise, proving the Buddha wrong.’