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"Bhante! You have become old, aged and worn. Now, you should retire from all responsibilities and lead a carefree life. You should hand over the responsibility for the monastic order to him. I am prepared to take it over".
The Buddha retorted at once,
'Stop, Devadatta ! You are not fit to be the leader of the monastic order".
Devadatta repeated the same words thrice. But the Buddha protested emphatically everytime:
"Devadatta ! You should know for certain that I am not going to pass on the leadership of the monastic order even to such worthy disciples as Sariputta and Moggalana. I do not understand how do you cherish the idea of becoming the leader of the monastic order though you are no better than an worthless fellow".
But all the time Devadatta was boiling within himself. He shouted,
"In this grand assembly, where even the Crownprince, the future monarch, is present, you have insulted me by calling me an worthless fellow. In contrast, you have extolled Sāriputta and Moggalana as being very worthy disciples".
He was very angry and unhappy. He saluted the Buddha, moved round him and quitted the place at once. This was the first revolt by Devadatta.
The Buddha called the monks around him and said,
"Bhikşus! At Rājagrha, the monastic order should expose Devadatta in the following manner: Deva datta was a different person in the past, but he has totally changed now; and whatever Devadatta does now in body and speech, neither the Buddha, nor Dhar ma nor Sangha is in any way responsible for that. Devadatta alone is responsible for all he does".
The Buddha continued,
