[121] "Pukkusa, at one time I was staying at Ātumā, in a chaff-house (bhusāgāra). Now on that occasion, while the rain was pouring down, while the sky was rumbling, with lightning flashing forth and a thunderbolt striking, two farmers who were brothers and four oxen were killed not far from the chaff-house. Then, Pukkusa, a great crowd of people came out from Ātumā and went to where the two farmer brothers and the four oxen had been killed. Now at that time, Pukkusa, I had come out of the chaff-house and was walking back and forth in the open air at the door of the chaff-house. Then, Pukkusa, a certain man from that great crowd approached me, and having approached, he paid homage to me and stood to one side. As he stood to one side, Pukkusa, I said to that man: 'Friend, why has that great crowd gathered?'
'Just now, venerable sir, while the rain was pouring down, while the sky was rumbling, with lightning flashing forth and a thunderbolt striking, two farmer brothers and four oxen were killed. It is on this account that the great crowd has gathered. But you, venerable sir—where were you?'
'I was right here, friend.'
'But did you not see it, venerable sir?'
'I did not see it, friend.'
'But did you not hear the sound, venerable sir?'
'I did not hear the sound, friend.'
'But were you asleep, venerable sir?'
'I was not asleep, friend.'
'But were you percipient, venerable sir?'
'Even so, friend.'
'So you, venerable sir, being percipient and awake, while the rain was pouring down, while the sky was rumbling, with lightning flashing forth and a thunderbolt striking, neither saw anything nor heard the sound?'
'Even so, friend.'
Then, Pukkusa, it occurred to that man: 'How wonderful indeed, sirs! How marvelous indeed, sirs! Those gone forth dwell indeed in a peaceful abiding, in that one who is percipient and awake, while the rain is pouring down, while the sky is rumbling, with lightning flashing forth and a thunderbolt striking, will neither see anything nor hear the sound.' Having declared his lofty confidence in me, he circumambulated me, keeping his right side toward me, and departed."
When this was said, Pukkusa the Malla said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, whatever confidence I had in Āḷāra Kālāma, I winnow it away in a great wind, or I wash it away in a river of swift current. Excellent, venerable sir! Excellent, venerable sir! Just as, venerable sir, one might set upright what has been overturned, or uncover what has been concealed, or point out the path to one who is lost, or hold up an oil lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes may see forms—even so has the Dhamma been made clear by the Blessed One in many ways. Venerable sir, I go to the Blessed One for refuge, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for as long as life lasts, from this day forward."
Then Pukkusa the Malla addressed a certain man: "Come now, my man, bring me the pair of burnished cloths of golden hue (siṅgivaṇṇa), fit for wearing." "Yes, sir," that man replied to Pukkusa the Malla, and he brought that pair of burnished cloths of golden hue, fit for wearing. Then Pukkusa the Malla presented that pair of burnished cloths of golden hue, fit for wearing, to the Blessed One, saying: "Venerable sir, this is a pair of burnished cloths of golden hue, fit for wearing. May the Blessed One accept it from me, out of compassion." "In that case, Pukkusa, clothe me in one and Ānanda in the other." "Yes, venerable sir," Pukkusa the Malla replied to the Blessed One, and he clothed the Blessed One in one and the Venerable Ānanda in the other. Then the Blessed One instructed, exhorted, inspired, and gladdened Pukkusa the Malla with a talk on the Dhamma. Then Pukkusa the Malla, having been instructed, exhorted, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side toward him, and departed.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.