Chapters 26 Trying to discern the Buddha by his bodily characteristics

"Subhūti, what do you think? Can one discern the Tathāgata by means of the thirty-two bodily characteristics?"

Subhūti said, "Yes, yes. One discerns the Tathāgata by means of the thirty-two bodily characteristics."

The Buddha said, "Subhūti, if one discerns the Tathāgata by means of the thirty-two bodily characteristics, then the wheel-turning sage kings (temporal rulers) are Tathāgatas."

Subhūti said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, as I understand the gist of what you have said, one should not try to discern the Tathāgata by means of the thirty-two bodily characteristics."

Then the World Honored One spoke in a verse:

Someone who tries to discern me in form

Or seek me in sound

Is practicing non-Buddhist methods

And will not discern the Tathāgata