[135] Then the Venerable Ānanda entered the dwelling and stood leaning against the door-lintel (kapisīsa), weeping: "Alas, I am still a learner (sekha) with work yet to be done, and my Teacher, who is compassionate toward me, is about to attain final Nibbāna (parinibbāna)."
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, where is Ānanda?"
"Venerable sir, the Venerable Ānanda has entered the dwelling and stands leaning against the door-lintel, weeping: 'Alas, I am still a learner with work yet to be done, and my Teacher, who is compassionate toward me, is about to attain final Nibbāna.'"
Then the Blessed One addressed a certain bhikkhu: "Come, bhikkhu, address Ānanda in my name: 'Friend Ānanda, the Teacher summons you.'"
"Yes, venerable sir," that bhikkhu replied to the Blessed One, and he approached the Venerable Ānanda; having approached, he said to the Venerable Ānanda: "Friend Ānanda, the Teacher summons you."
"Yes, friend," the Venerable Ānanda replied to that bhikkhu, and he approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
When the Venerable Ānanda was seated to one side, the Blessed One said to him: "Enough, Ānanda, do not sorrow, do not lament. Have I not declared beforehand that there must be difference, separation, and alteration from all that is dear and beloved? How, then, Ānanda, could it be obtained here that what is born, come to be, conditioned, and subject to disintegration should not disintegrate? Such a thing is impossible. For a long time, Ānanda, you have attended upon the Tathāgata with bodily acts of loving-kindness (mettā) that are beneficial, pleasant, undivided, and measureless; with verbal acts of loving-kindness that are beneficial, pleasant, undivided, and measureless; with mental acts of loving-kindness that are beneficial, pleasant, undivided, and measureless. You have made merit, Ānanda. Apply yourself to striving; you will quickly become one free of the taints (āsava)."
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, those Blessed Ones who were Arahants, Fully Awakened Ones in the past — those Blessed Ones too had attendants of at most just this measure, just as Ānanda is to me. Those Blessed Ones who will be Arahants, Fully Awakened Ones in the future — those Blessed Ones too will have attendants of at most just this measure, just as Ānanda is to me. Ānanda is wise, bhikkhus: he knows, 'This is the time to approach to see the Tathāgata; this is the time for the bhikkhus; this is the time for the bhikkhunīs; this is the time for the laymen; this is the time for the laywomen; this is the time for the king and the royal ministers; this is the time for the sectarians; this is the time for the disciples of the sectarians.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.