Verses on Dhamma 5.12.p7

5.12.p7

Idha pana thero ‘‘ahipetaṃ disvā sitaṃ pātvākāsi’’nti āha. Athassa satthā sakkhī hutvāpi uṭṭhāya ‘‘saccaṃ, bhikkhave, moggallāno āha. Mayāpesa sambodhipattadivaseyeva diṭṭho, apicāhaṃ ‘ye me vacanaṃ na saddaheyyuṃ, tesaṃ ahitāya bhaveyyā’ti parānuddayāya na kathesi’’nti āha. Lakkhaṇasaṃyuttepi (saṃ. ni. 2.202 ādayo) hi mahāmoggallānena diṭṭhakāleyeva satthā tassa sakkhī hutvā vinītavatthūni kathesi, idampi tena tatheva kathitaṃ. Taṃ sutvā bhikkhū tassa pubbakammaṃ pucchiṃsu. Satthāpi tesaṃ kathesi –

At this point, then, the Elder said, "I smiled because I saw a snake-ghost." Straightway the Teacher arose and witnessed to the truth of Moggallāna's statement, saying, "Monks, what Moggallāna says is the exact truth. I myself saw this very ghost on the day I attained Enlightenment. But out of compassion for others, I did not say, 'As for those who will not believe my words, may it be to their disadvantage.'" (According to the Lakkhaṇa Saṃyutta, when Moggallāna the Great saw the ghost, the Teacher became his witness and told twenty stories.) When the monks heard what he said, they inquired about his deed in a former state of existence. Thereupon the Teacher related the following