At Sāvatthī.

Now at that time a certain divinity had the following harmful misconception: “No ascetic or brahmin can come here!”

Then the Buddha knew what that divinity was thinking. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that realm of divinity. Then the Buddha sat cross-legged in the air above that Divinity, having entered upon the fire element.

Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna thought, “Where is the Buddha staying at present?” With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, he saw the Buddha seated cross-legged in the air above that Divinity, having entered upon the fire element. Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that realm of divinity. Then Mahāmoggallāna—positioning himself in the east, below the Buddha—sat cross-legged in the air above that Divinity, having entered upon the fire element.

Then Venerable Mahākassapa … positioned himself in the south …

Venerable Mahākappina … positioned himself in the west …

Venerable Anuruddha … positioned himself in the north, below the Buddha, sitting cross-legged in the air above that Divinity, having entered upon the fire element.

Then Mahāmoggallāna addressed that Divinity in verse:

“Sir, do you still have the same view 
that you had in the past? 
Or do you see the radiance 
transcending the realm of divinity?”

“Good sir, I don’t have that view 
that I had in the past. 
I see the radiance 
transcending the realm of divinity. 
So how could I say today 
that I am permanent and eternal?”

Having inspired a sense of awe in the Divinity, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, the Buddha vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in Jeta’s Grove.

Then that Divinity addressed a member of his retinue, “Please, good sir, go up to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna and say to him: ‘Moggallāna my good sir, are there any other disciples of the Buddha who have power and might comparable to misters Moggallāna, Kassapa, Kappina, and Anuruddha?’”

“Yes, good sir,” replied that retinue member. He went to Moggallāna and asked as instructed.

Then Mahāmoggallāna addressed that member of the retinue of Divinity in verse:

“There are many disciples of the Buddha 
who have the three knowledges, 
and have attained psychic power, 
expert in reading minds, 
they’re perfected ones with defilements ended.”

Then that member of the retinue of Divinity, having approved and agreed with what Mahāmoggallāna said, went to that Divinity and said to him, “Good sir, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this:

‘There are many disciples of the Buddha 
who have the three knowledges, 
and have attained psychic power, 
expert in reading minds, 
they’re perfected ones with defilements ended.’”

That’s what that member of the retinue of Divinity said. Satisfied, that Divinity approved what the member of his retinue said.