I said to him, ‘Sunakkhatta, the naked ascetic Pāṭikaputta is not capable of meeting me face to face, unless he gives up that statement and that intention, and lets go of that view. If he thinks he can meet me face to face without giving up those things, his head may explode.’

‘Careful what you say, Blessed One! Careful what you say, Holy One!’ ‘But why do you say this to me, Sunakkhatta?’ ‘Sir, the Buddha has categorically asserted that Pāṭikaputta is not capable of meeting the Buddha face to face, otherwise his head may explode. But Pāṭikaputta might meet the Buddha face to face in disguise, proving the Buddha wrong.’

‘Sunakkhatta, would the Realized One make an ambiguous statement?’ ‘But sir, did you make that statement after encompassing Pāṭikaputta’s mind with your mind? Or did deities tell you about it?’