Pathikasutta 1.20

1.20.1

Assosi kho, bhaggava, acelo pāthikaputto:

Pāṭikaputta heard,

1.20.2

‘abhikkantā kira abhiññātā abhiññātā licchavī, abhikkantā abhiññātā abhiññātā ca brāhmaṇamahāsālā gahapatinecayikā nānātitthiyā samaṇabrāhmaṇā.

‘It seems that very well-known Licchavis, well-to-do brahmins, rich householders, and ascetics and brahmins who follow various other religions have come forth.

1.20.3

Samaṇopi gotamo mayhaṃ ārāme divāvihāraṃ nisinno’ti.

And the ascetic Gotama is sitting in my monastery for the day’s meditation.’

1.20.4

Sutvānassa bhayaṃ chambhitattaṃ lomahaṃso udapādi.

When he heard that, he became frightened, scared, his hair standing on end.

1.20.5

Atha kho, bhaggava, acelo pāthikaputto bhīto saṃviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto yena tindukakhāṇuparibbājakārāmo tenupasaṅkami.

In fear he went to the Pale-Moon Ebony Trunk monastery for the wanderers.

1.20.6

Assosi kho, bhaggava, sā parisā:

The assembly heard of this,

1.20.7

‘acelo kira pāthikaputto bhīto saṃviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto yena tindukakhāṇuparibbājakārāmo tenupasaṅkanto’ti.

1.20.8

Atha kho, bhaggava, sā parisā aññataraṃ purisaṃ āmantesi:

and instructed a man,

1.20.9

‘Ehi tvaṃ, bho purisa, yena tindukakhāṇuparibbājakārāmo, yena acelo pāthikaputto tenupasaṅkama. upasaṅkamitvā acelaṃ pāthikaputtaṃ evaṃ vadehi:

‘Come, my man, go to see Pāṭikaputta at the Pale-Moon Ebony Trunk Monastery and say to him,

1.20.10

“abhikkamāvuso, pāthikaputta, abhikkantā abhiññātā abhiññātā licchavī, abhikkantā abhiññātā abhiññātā ca brāhmaṇamahāsālā gahapatinecayikā nānātitthiyā samaṇabrāhmaṇā, samaṇopi gotamo āyasmato ārāme divāvihāraṃ nisinno;

“Come forth, Reverend Pāṭikaputta! All these very well-known people have come forth, and the ascetic Gotama is sitting in your monastery for the day’s meditation.

1.20.11

bhāsitā kho pana te esā, āvuso pāthikaputta, vesāliyaṃ parisati vācā

For you stated this in the assembly at Vesālī:

1.20.12

samaṇopi gotamo ñāṇavādo, ahampi ñāṇavādo.

‘Both the ascetic Gotama and I speak from knowledge.

1.20.13

Ñāṇavādo kho pana ñāṇavādena arahati uttari manussadhammā iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ dassetuṃ.

One who speaks from knowledge ought to display a superhuman demonstration of psychic power to another who speaks from knowledge.

1.20.14

Samaṇo gotamo upaḍḍhapathaṃ āgaccheyya ahampi upaḍḍhapathaṃ gaccheyyaṃ.

If the ascetic Gotama meets me half-way,

1.20.15

Te tattha ubhopi uttari manussadhammā iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ kareyyāma.

there we should both perform a superhuman demonstration of psychic power.

1.20.16

Ekañce samaṇo gotamo uttari manussadhammā iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ karissati, dvāhaṃ karissāmi.

If he performs one demonstration of psychic power, I’ll perform two.

1.20.17

Dve ce samaṇo gotamo uttari manussadhammā iddhipāṭihāriyāni karissati, cattārāhaṃ karissāmi.

If he performs two, I’ll perform four.

1.20.18

Cattāri ce samaṇo gotamo uttari manussadhammā iddhipāṭihāriyāni karissati, aṭṭhāhaṃ karissāmi.

If he performs four, I’ll perform eight.

1.20.19

Iti yāvatakaṃ yāvatakaṃ samaṇo gotamo uttari manussadhammā iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ karissati, taddiguṇaṃ taddiguṇāhaṃ karissāmī”ti

However many demonstrations of psychic power the ascetic Gotama performs, I’ll perform double.’

1.20.20

abhikkamasseva kho āvuso pāthikaputta, upaḍḍhapathaṃ.

Come forth, Reverend Pāṭikaputta, half-way.

1.20.21

Sabbapaṭhamaṃyeva āgantvā samaṇo gotamo āyasmato ārāme divāvihāraṃ nisinno’ti.

The ascetic Gotama has come the first half, and is sitting in your monastery.”’