[92] The Licchavis of Vesālī heard: "The Blessed One, it is said, has arrived at Vesālī and is dwelling at Ambapālī's grove near Vesālī." Then those Licchavis, having had the finest carriages harnessed, mounted the finest carriages and set out from Vesālī with the finest carriages. Among them some Licchavis were blue, of blue complexion, with blue garments and blue adornments; some Licchavis were yellow, of yellow complexion, with yellow garments and yellow adornments; some Licchavis were red, of red complexion, with red garments and red adornments; some Licchavis were white, of white complexion, with white garments and white adornments. Then Ambapālī the courtesan (gaṇikā) drove up against the young Licchavis, axle against axle, wheel against wheel, yoke against yoke. Then those Licchavis said to Ambapālī the courtesan: "What, woman Ambapālī, do you mean by driving against the young Licchavis, axle against axle, wheel against wheel, yoke against yoke?"
"It is, young masters, because the Blessed One has been invited by me, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus (bhikkhu), for tomorrow's meal."
"Woman Ambapālī, give up this meal for a hundred thousand!"
"Young masters, even if you were to give me Vesālī together with its tributary lands, even so I would not give up so great a meal."
Then those Licchavis snapped their fingers, saying: "We have been beaten, sirs, by Ambapālikā! We have been cheated, sirs, by Ambapālikā!" Then those Licchavis proceeded to Ambapālī's grove.
The Blessed One saw those Licchavis coming from afar, and seeing them he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, let those bhikkhus who have never before seen the gods of the Thirty-three (Tāvatiṃsa) look upon the assembly of Licchavis; bhikkhus, behold the assembly of Licchavis; bhikkhus, compare the assembly of Licchavis to the Thirty-three."
Then those Licchavis, having gone by carriage as far as the ground was passable for carriages, descended from the carriages and approached the Blessed One on foot; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. When they were seated to one side, the Blessed One instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened those Licchavis with a talk on the Dhamma. Then those Licchavis, instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus consent to accept our meal tomorrow."
"Licchavis, I have already consented to tomorrow's meal of Ambapālī the courtesan."
Then those Licchavis snapped their fingers, saying: "We have been beaten, sirs, by Ambapālikā! We have been cheated, sirs, by Ambapālikā!" Then those Licchavis, having delighted in and approved of the Blessed One's words, rose from their seats, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him to their right, and departed.
Then Ambapālī the courtesan, when that night had passed, having had excellent hard and soft foods prepared in her own park, had the time announced to the Blessed One: "It is time, venerable sir; the meal is ready."
Then the Blessed One, in the morning, having dressed and taken bowl and robe, went together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus to the place where Ambapālī the courtesan was serving the meal; having arrived, he sat down on the seat prepared. Then Ambapālī the courtesan with her own hand served and satisfied the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with excellent hard and soft foods. Then, when the Blessed One had finished eating and had withdrawn his hand from the bowl, Ambapālī the courtesan took a certain low seat and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Ambapālī the courtesan said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I give this park to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha." The Blessed One accepted the park. Then the Blessed One, having instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened Ambapālī the courtesan with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat and departed.
While dwelling there at Ambapālī's grove near Vesālī, the Blessed One gave this very Dhamma talk in abundance to the bhikkhus: "Such is virtue, such is concentration (samādhi), such is wisdom. Concentration imbued with virtue is of great fruit and great benefit; wisdom imbued with concentration is of great fruit and great benefit; the mind (citta) imbued with wisdom is rightly liberated from the taints (āsava), that is to say, from the taint of sensuality, the taint of existence, and the taint of ignorance."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.