[488] Then the Blessed One, in the morning, having dressed and taken his bowl and robe, went to the residence of Prince Bodhi. Now at that time Prince Bodhi was standing outside the gateway, awaiting the Blessed One. Prince Bodhi saw the Blessed One coming from afar; having seen him, he went out to meet him, paid homage to the Blessed One, and, placing him in front, approached the Kokanuda Palace. Then the Blessed One stopped and stood at the lowest step of the staircase. Then Prince Bodhi said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, let the Blessed One step upon the cloths; let the Sublime One (Sugata) step upon the cloths, that it may be for my welfare and happiness for a long time." When this was said, the Blessed One remained silent. A second time Prince Bodhi said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, let the Blessed One step upon the cloths; let the Sublime One step upon the cloths, that it may be for my welfare and happiness for a long time." When this was said,¹ the Blessed One remained silent. A third time Prince Bodhi said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, let the Blessed One step upon the cloths; let the Sublime One step upon the cloths, that it may be for my welfare and happiness for a long time." Then the Blessed One looked toward the Venerable Ānanda. Then the Venerable Ānanda said to Prince Bodhi: "Prince, let the cloths be gathered up. The Blessed One will not step upon a strip of cloth; the Tathāgata has regard for the generation to come." Then Prince Bodhi, having had the cloths gathered up, had seats prepared on the upper storey of the Kokanuda [Palace].² Then the Blessed One ascended the Kokanuda Palace and sat down on the seat prepared, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Then Prince Bodhi, with his own hand, served and satisfied the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with excellent hard and soft food. Then, when the Blessed One had finished eating and had withdrawn his hand from the bowl, Prince Bodhi took a certain low seat and sat down at one side. Seated at one side, Prince Bodhi said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, it occurs to me thus: 'Happiness is not to be attained through happiness; rather, happiness is to be attained through suffering (dukkha).'"
¹ [The European edition omits "when this was said" and reads simply "a second time."]
² [The European edition here adds "pāsāde" ("on the palace").]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.