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'I will go into the presence of the ascetic Gotama without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view,' then his head would surely split. And, venerable sir, if the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta were to come into the presence of the Blessed One in a disfigured form, then that would be a falsehood for the Blessed One. 18. "Now, Sunakkhatta, would the Tathāgata speak such a word, which is two-faced?" "But, venerable sir, did the Blessed One know the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta, having encompassed his mind with His own mind, that – 'It is impossible for the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view, to come into my presence. If he were to think thus: "I will go into the presence of the ascetic Gotama without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view," then his head would surely split'?" "Or did devas inform the Blessed One of this matter – 'It is impossible, venerable sir, for the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view, to come into the presence of the Blessed One. If he were to think thus: "I will go into the presence of the ascetic Gotama without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view," then his head would surely split'?" 19. "Sunakkhatta, I knew the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta, having encompassed his mind with my own mind, that 'It is impossible for the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view, to come into my presence. If he were to think thus: "I will go into the presence of the ascetic Gotama without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view," then his head would surely split.'" he would come into my presence, his head would split open. ‘The devas also informed me of this matter: “It is impossible, venerable sir, for the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view, to come into the presence of the Blessed One. If he were to think thus: ‘I, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view, will come into the presence of the recluse Gotama,’ his head would split open.”’ ‘Ajita, the general of the Licchavis, who recently died, has been reborn in the Tāvatiṃsa heaven. He also approached me and informed me thus: “Shameless, venerable sir, is the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta; a liar, venerable sir, is the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta. The naked ascetic Pāthikaputta, venerable sir, declared concerning me in Vajjigāma: ‘Ajita, the general of the Licchavis, has been reborn in the great hell.’ But I, venerable sir, have not been reborn in the great hell; I have been reborn in the Tāvatiṃsa heaven. Shameless, venerable sir, is the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta; a liar, venerable sir, is the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta; and it is impossible, venerable sir, for the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view, to come into the presence of the Blessed One. If he were to think thus: ‘I, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view, will come into the presence of the recluse Gotama,’ his head would split open.”’ ‘Thus, Sunakkhatta, having encompassed the mind with my mind, I knew that the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta — it is impossible for the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view, to come into my presence. If he were to think thus: ‘I, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view, will come into the presence of the recluse Gotama,’ his head would split open. The devas also informed me of this matter: “It is impossible, venerable sir, for the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta...”’ Pathikaputta, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view, to come into the presence of the Blessed One. If he were to think thus: "I, without abandoning that speech, without abandoning that thought, without relinquishing that view, will go into the presence of the recluse Gotama," his head would surely split apart. "So then, Sunakkhatta, having wandered for alms in Vesālī, and having returned from my alms round after the meal, I will go to the park of the naked Pathikaputta for my day's abiding. Now, Sunakkhatta, to whomever you wish, you may announce it." The Discourse on the Miracle of Psychic Power 20. "Then I, Bhaggava, in the forenoon, having put on my lower robe, and taking my bowl and outer robe, entered Vesālī for alms. Having wandered for alms in Vesālī, and having returned from my alms round after the meal, I went to the park of the naked Pathikaputta for my day's abiding. Then, Bhaggava, Sunakkhatta the Licchavi, in a hurry, entered Vesālī and went to the well-known Licchavis, the well-known ones. Having gone there, he said to the well-known Licchavis, the well-known ones, this: 'Friends, the Blessed One, having wandered for alms in Vesālī, and having returned from his alms round after the meal, has gone to the park of the naked Pathikaputta for his day's abiding. Come, venerable sirs, come, venerable sirs! A miracle of psychic power, a superhuman state, will occur for the good recluses.' Then, Bhaggava, it occurred to the well-known Licchavis, the well-known ones: 'Indeed, sirs, a miracle of psychic power, a superhuman state, will occur for the good recluses; come now, sirs, let us go!' And he went to the well-known great Brahmin householders, the well-known householders, the various sectarians, the recluses and brahmins. Having gone there, he said to the well-known various sectarians, the well-known ones, this: addressed the ascetics and brahmins thus: ‘Friends, the Blessed One, having wandered for alms in Vesālī, and having returned from his alms-round after his meal, approached the park of Pathikaputta the naked ascetic to spend the day there. Come forth, venerable sirs, come forth, venerable sirs! For good ascetics, there will be a superhuman feat of psychic power.’ Then, Bhaggava, to well-known, well-known ascetics and brahmins of various sects, this thought occurred: ‘Indeed, for good ascetics, there will be a superhuman feat of psychic power; come now, sirs, let us go!’ Then, Bhaggava, well-known, well-known Licchavīs, well-known, well-known great brahmin householders, and householders of various sects, ascetics and brahmins, approached the park of Pathikaputta the naked ascetic. That assembly, Bhaggava, was large, of many hundreds, of many thousands. 21. Then, Bhaggava, Pathikaputta the naked ascetic heard: ‘Indeed, well-known, well-known Licchavīs have come, well-known, well-known great brahmin householders have come, and householders of various sects, ascetics and brahmins. And the ascetic Gotama is seated in my park, spending the day.’ Having heard this, fear, agitation, and goosebumps arose in him. Then, Bhaggava, Pathikaputta the naked ascetic, frightened, agitated, with hair standing on end, approached the hermitage of Tindukakhāṇa the wanderer. Then, Bhaggava, that assembly heard: ‘Indeed, Pathikaputta the naked ascetic, frightened, agitated, with hair standing on end, has approached the hermitage of Tindukakhāṇa the wanderer.’ Then, Bhaggava, that assembly addressed a certain man: ‘Come, good man, go to the hermitage of Tindukakhāṇa the wanderer, approach Pathikaputta the naked ascetic. Having approached, say to Pathikaputta the naked ascetic thus: “Come, friend Pathikaputta, ... come, well-known, well-known Licchavis have come, well-known, well-known great Brahmin householders, lay followers, and ascetics and brahmins of various sects have come. Even the ascetic Gotama is sitting in the venerable one's park, taking his day's rest. And this word was spoken by you, friend Pāthikaputta, in the assembly in Vesālī: 'Even the ascetic Gotama is one who speaks of knowledge, and I too am one who speaks of knowledge. Indeed, one who speaks of knowledge should show a superhuman feat of psychic power to another who speaks of knowledge. Let the ascetic Gotama come halfway, and I too will go halfway. There, both of us will perform a superhuman feat of psychic power. If the ascetic Gotama performs one superhuman feat of psychic power, I will perform two. If the ascetic Gotama performs two superhuman feats of psychic power, I will perform four. If the ascetic Gotama performs four superhuman feats of psychic power, I will perform eight. Thus, however many superhuman feats of psychic power the ascetic Gotama performs, I will perform double that, double that.' So, come, friend Pāthikaputta, halfway. The ascetic Gotama has already arrived first and is sitting in the venerable one's park, taking his day's rest." "Yes, sir," that man replied to that assembly, Bhaggava, and went to the wanderers' park at Tindukakhāṇa, to the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta. Having approached, he said to the naked ascetic Pāthikaputta: 'Come, friend Pāthikaputta, well-known, well-known Licchavis have come, well-known, well-known great Brahmin householders, lay followers, and ascetics and brahmins of various sects have come. Even the ascetic Gotama is sitting in the venerable one's park, taking his day's rest. And this word was spoken by you, friend Pāthikaputta, in the assembly in Vesālī: 'Even the ascetic Gotama is one who speaks of knowledge; and I... also a knower. Indeed, a knower should show a superhuman feat of psychic power to a knower [...] I will do double that, double that. Indeed, come forth, friend Pāthikaputta, halfway. First of all, having come,