[605] Then Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic (jaṭila) approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and when the courteous and amiable talk was concluded, he sat down at one side. As Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic sat at one side, the Blessed One instructed, urged, roused, and gladdened him with a talk on the Dhamma. Then Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic — instructed, urged, roused, and gladdened by the Blessed One with the talk on the Dhamma — said to the Blessed One: "May Master Gotama, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, consent to accept tomorrow's meal from me." When this was said, the Blessed One said to Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic: "The Saṅgha of bhikkhus is large, Keṇiya — twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus — and you have full confidence in the brahmins." A second time Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic said to the Blessed One: "Master Gotama, although the Saṅgha of bhikkhus is large — twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus — and although I have full confidence in the brahmins, still may Master Gotama, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, consent to accept tomorrow's meal from me." A second time the Blessed One said to Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic: "The Saṅgha of bhikkhus is large, Keṇiya — twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus — and you have full confidence in the brahmins." A third time Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic said to the Blessed One: "Master Gotama, although the Saṅgha of bhikkhus is large — twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus — and although I have full confidence in the brahmins, still let Master Gotama, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, indeed consent to accept tomorrow's meal from me." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic, having understood the Blessed One's consent, rose from his seat and went to his own hermitage; having arrived, he addressed his friends and companions, his kinsmen and blood-relations: "Hear me, worthy friends and companions, kinsmen and blood-relations! The ascetic Gotama, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, has been invited for tomorrow's meal; therefore assist me with the manual work." "Yes, worthy sir," the friends and companions, kinsmen and blood-relations of Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic replied to Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic; and some dug ovens, some split firewood, some washed the vessels, some set a water-jar in place, and some prepared seats, while Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic himself made ready the pavilion (maṇḍalamāḷa).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.