[11] Then Sudinna the Kalandaputta, having concluded that business in Vesālī, went to Kalandagāma, to his mother and father; and having approached, he said this to his mother and father: "Mother, Father, in whatever way I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy, for one dwelling in a house, to live the holy life (brahmacariya) utterly perfect, utterly pure, polished like a conch shell. I wish to shave off my hair and beard, to put on the ochre robes (kāsāya), and to go forth from the household life into homelessness. Permit me to go forth from the household life into homelessness."
When this was said, the mother and father of Sudinna the Kalandaputta said this to Sudinna the Kalandaputta: "You, dear Sudinna, are our only son, dear and beloved, raised in comfort, reared in comfort. You, dear Sudinna, know nothing of suffering. Even by your death we would be parted from you against our will; how then, while you are living, shall we permit you to go forth from the household life into homelessness?"
A second time Sudinna the Kalandaputta said this to his mother and father: "Mother, Father, in whatever way I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy, for one dwelling in a house, to live the holy life utterly perfect, utterly pure, polished like a conch shell. I wish to shave off my hair and beard, to put on the ochre robes, and to go forth from the household life into homelessness. Permit me to go forth from the household life into homelessness."
A second time the mother and father of Sudinna the Kalandaputta said this to Sudinna the Kalandaputta: "You, dear Sudinna, are our only son, dear and beloved, raised in comfort, reared in comfort. You, dear Sudinna, know nothing of suffering. Even by your death we would be parted from you against our will; how then, while you are living, shall we permit you to go forth from the household life into homelessness?"
A third time Sudinna the Kalandaputta said this to his mother and father: "Mother, Father, in whatever way I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy, for one dwelling in a house, to live the holy life utterly perfect, utterly pure, polished like a conch shell. I wish to shave off my hair and beard, to put on the ochre robes, and to go forth from the household life into homelessness. Permit me to go forth from the household life into homelessness."
A third time the mother and father of Sudinna the Kalandaputta said this to Sudinna the Kalandaputta: "You, dear Sudinna, are our only son, dear and beloved, raised in comfort, reared in comfort. You, dear Sudinna, know nothing of suffering. Even by your death we would be parted from you against our will; how then, while you are living, shall we permit you to go forth from the household life into homelessness?"
Then Sudinna the Kalandaputta, [thinking,] "My mother and father do not permit me to go forth from the household life into homelessness," lay down right there on the bare ground, [resolving,] "Right here shall be either my death or my going forth." Then Sudinna the Kalandaputta ate not even one meal; he ate not even two meals; he ate not even three meals; he ate not even four meals; he ate not even five meals; he ate not even six meals; he ate not even seven meals.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.