[544] Now at that time the Mettiya-Bhummajaka bhikkhus were both newly ordained (navakā) and of little merit; whatever inferior lodgings belonged to the Saṅgha fell to their lot, and inferior meals as well. Now at that time the people of Rājagaha wished to give the elder bhikkhus specially prepared offerings (abhisaṅkhārika) — ghee, oil, and choice additional dishes (uttaribhaṅga) — but to the Mettiya-Bhummajaka bhikkhus they gave ordinary fare, just as it came to hand: broken-rice porridge with sour gruel as its accompaniment (kāṇājaka bilaṅgadutiya).
After the meal, having returned from their alms round, they would ask the elder bhikkhus: "Friends, what did you have at the meal hall? Friends, what did you have at the meal hall?" Some elders would say: "Friends, we had ghee, we had oil, we had choice additional dishes." But the Mettiya-Bhummajaka bhikkhus would say: "Friends, we had nothing at all — just ordinary fare, as it came to hand: broken-rice porridge with sour gruel as its accompaniment."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.