[5] Now at that time Verañjā was short of food, stricken with famine, the bones of the dead lying white,¹ and food was rationed by ticket; it was not easy to sustain oneself by gleaning, bowl in hand. And at that time horse-dealers from Uttarāpatha, with about five hundred horses, had entered upon residence for the rains at Verañjā. In the horse-pens they arranged a pattha-measure of steamed grain for each of the bhikkhus. In the morning the bhikkhus, having dressed and taken bowl and robe, entered Verañjā for alms; obtaining no alms, they walked for alms among the horse-pens, carried the pattha-measure of grain each back to the monastery, pounded it again and again in a mortar, and ate it. But the Venerable Ānanda, having ground a pattha-measure of grain on a stone, offered it to the Blessed One, and the Blessed One ate it. And the Blessed One heard the sound of the mortar.
Tathāgatas ask even though they know, and even though they know they do not ask; knowing the proper time, they ask, and knowing the proper time, they do not ask. Tathāgatas ask about what is connected with benefit, not about what is unconnected with benefit; with regard to what is unconnected with benefit, the Tathāgatas have demolished the bridge. Buddhas, Blessed Ones, question bhikkhus for two reasons: [thinking,] "We shall teach the Dhamma," or "We shall lay down a training rule (sikkhāpada) for the disciples."
Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "What now, Ānanda, is that sound of a mortar?" Then the Venerable Ānanda informed the Blessed One of the matter. "Good, good, Ānanda! By you good men (sappurisā) victory has been won; the generation to come will despise boiled sāli rice with meat."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.