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"I suggest that this should be brought to the notice of the entire monastic order, this should be made known to them, and the following should be repeated again and again: 'The Sangha'agree with this and accepts this tacitly. I accept this".
Addressing Sāriputta ! You take the responsibility of exposing Devadatta at Rājagsha".
Sariputta - "Bhante! In the past, at Rājagrha, I have spoken words of praise about Devadatta. I have said, 'Godhiputra (Devadatta) commands great powers. 'Bhante! Should I now speak just the reverse in order to expose him"?.
The Buddha - "Sāriputta ! In the past, you showered praise on him which he rightly deserved. Is that right"?
Sāriputta - "Bhante!
It is so.
The Buddha resumed,
"In the same manner, Sāriputta, you expose him as he is now".
Säriputta accepted the order of the Buddha. To the monastic order, the Buddha said,
"May the monastic order nominate Sāriputta to the task of exposing Devadatta at Rajagrha".
Then he himself explained how Sāriputta should be given the necessary nomination:
"The monastic order should first interview Sāriputta; then it should bring this to the notice of the wise and able people in the order; and thereafter, it should be made known, announced and upheld".
Having been given the nomination by the monastic order, Sariputta entered into Rājagrha with a large body of monks. There they exposed Devadatta. The kindhearted, wise and intelligent people thought that this exposure of Devadatta in the city at the instance of the
