8.
The Discourse to Upaka
188.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on the Vulture's Peak mountain.
Then Upaka Maṇḍikāputta approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, Upaka Maṇḍikāputta said this to the Blessed One -
"I, venerable sir, hold such a doctrine and view: 'Whoever speaks censure of others, speaking censure of others, every such one does not substantiate it. Not substantiating it, he is blameworthy and at fault.'" "If, Upaka, one speaks censure of others, speaking censure of others, does not substantiate it, not substantiating it, he is blameworthy and at fault. You indeed, Upaka, speak censure of others, speaking censure of others, you do not substantiate it, not substantiating it, you are blameworthy and at fault." "Just as, venerable sir, one might bind with a great snare one who is just emerging; so too, venerable sir, just emerging, I have been bound by the Blessed One with a great snare of argument."
"'This is unwholesome' - Upaka, has been laid down by me. Therein there are immeasurable terms, immeasurable phrases, immeasurable is the Truth-finder's proclamation of the Teaching - thus this is unwholesome. 'But this unwholesome is to be abandoned' - Upaka, has been laid down by me. Therein there are immeasurable terms, immeasurable phrases, immeasurable is the Truth-finder's proclamation of the Teaching - thus this unwholesome is to be abandoned.
"'This is wholesome' - Upaka, has been laid down by me. Therein there are immeasurable terms, immeasurable phrases, immeasurable is the Truth-finder's proclamation of the Teaching - thus this is wholesome. 'But this wholesome is to be developed' - Upaka, has been laid down by me. Therein there are immeasurable terms, immeasurable phrases, immeasurable is the Truth-finder's proclamation of the Teaching - thus this wholesome is to be developed."
Then Upaka Maṇḍikāputta, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Blessed One had said, rose from his seat, paid respect to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on his right, and approached King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha; having approached, he reported to King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha all the friendly conversation he had with the Blessed One.
When this was said, King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, angry and displeased, said this to Upaka Maṇḍikāputta - "How much of a destroyer of virtue is this salt-maker's boy, how garrulous, how reckless, that he should think that Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is to be assailed; go away, Upaka, be gone, let me not see you." The eighth.