[140] When this was said, Subhadda the wanderer said to the Blessed One: "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 way 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. I, venerable sir, go to the Blessed One for refuge, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May I receive the going forth (pabbajjā) in the Blessed One's presence; may I receive the higher ordination (upasampadā)."
"Subhadda, one who was formerly a member of another sect, desiring the going forth, desiring the higher ordination in this Dhamma and Discipline, dwells on probation (parivāsa) for four months. At the end of the four months, the bhikkhus, being satisfied in mind, give him the going forth and the higher ordination to the state of a bhikkhu. Yet in this matter the difference between individuals is known to me."
"Venerable sir, if those formerly of other sects, desiring the going forth, desiring the higher ordination in this Dhamma and Discipline, dwell on probation for four months, and at the end of the four months the bhikkhus, being satisfied in mind, give them the going forth and the higher ordination to the state of a bhikkhu — I will dwell on probation for four years. At the end of the four years, let the bhikkhus, being satisfied in mind, give me the going forth and the higher ordination to the state of a bhikkhu."
Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Well then, Ānanda, give Subhadda the wanderer the going forth."
"Even so, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda assented to the Blessed One. Then Subhadda the wanderer said to the Venerable Ānanda: "It is a gain for you, friend Ānanda; it is well gained by you, friend Ānanda, that you have been anointed here with the anointing of a pupil in the Teacher's very presence."
And Subhadda the wanderer received the going forth in the Blessed One's presence; he received the higher ordination. And not long after his higher ordination, the Venerable Subhadda, dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent (ātāpī), and resolute, before long realized with his own direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness, and having entered upon it, he dwelt therein. He knew directly: "Birth (jāti) is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done; there is no more of this state of being."
And the Venerable Subhadda became one of the arahants. He was the Blessed One's last direct-witness disciple.
The fifth recitation section is concluded.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.