Cullavagga IV 2.5: Seyyathāpi bhikkhave caṇḍassa kukkurassa nāsāya pittaṃ bhindeyyuṃ. Evaṃ hi so bhikkhave kukkuro bhiyyosomattāya caṇḍataro assa.

Oldenberg's translation: "Just, O Bhikkhus, as if you were to burst a gall (bladder) before the nose of a fierce dog, the dog would thereby become so much the fiercer [...]

I am at a loss to understand how this image may relate to Devadatta's negative characteristics - as described in this part of the text.

The PTS Pali-English Dictionary notes under pitta: 'The passage is not clear. [...] May the meaning be "muzzle"?'

Was the fragment commented upon in the Cullavagga-atthakatha? Unfortunately, I do not have access to it. A quotation from the Atthakatha and comments would be more than welcome.

Thanking you in advance,

Artur Karp

University of Warsaw