[644] When this was said, the brahmin Ghoṭamukha said to the venerable Udena: "Excellent, worthy Udena! Excellent, worthy Udena! Just as, worthy Udena, one might set upright what has been overturned, or uncover what has been concealed, or point out the path 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 in many ways by the worthy Udena. I go to the worthy Udena for refuge, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the worthy Udena remember me as a lay follower (upāsaka) who has gone for refuge from this day forth for as long as life lasts."
"Brahmin, do not go to me for refuge. Go for refuge to that same Blessed One to whom I have gone for refuge."
"But worthy Udena, where is that worthy Gotama, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, dwelling at present?"
"Brahmin, that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, has now attained final Nibbāna (parinibbuta)."
"Worthy Udena, if we were to hear that that worthy Gotama was within ten yojanas, we would go even ten yojanas to see that worthy Gotama, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One. If we were to hear, worthy Udena, that that worthy Gotama was within twenty yojanas … thirty yojanas … forty yojanas … fifty yojanas, we would go even fifty yojanas to see that worthy Gotama, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One. If we were to hear, worthy Udena, that that worthy Gotama was even within a hundred yojanas, we would go even a hundred yojanas to see that worthy Gotama, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One. But since, worthy Udena, that worthy Gotama has attained final Nibbāna, we go for refuge to that worthy Gotama even though he has attained final Nibbāna, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the worthy Udena remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for as long as life lasts. And, worthy Udena, the King of Aṅga gives me a regular daily allowance; from that I give one regular allowance to the worthy Udena."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.