[110] "Worthy Ānanda, being asked thus: 'Is there even a single bhikkhu appointed by that worthy Gotama, saying: "When I have passed away, this one will be your refuge (paṭisaraṇa)," to whom you would now turn?' — you said: 'There is not, brahmin, even a single bhikkhu appointed by that Blessed One who knows, who sees, the Arahant, the Fully Awakened One, saying: "When I have passed away, this one will be your refuge," to whom we would now turn.'
Being asked: 'But, worthy Ānanda, is there even a single bhikkhu agreed upon by the Saṅgha and appointed by several elder bhikkhus, saying: "When the Blessed One has passed away, this one will be our refuge," to whom you would now turn?' — you said: 'There is not, brahmin, even a single bhikkhu agreed upon by the Saṅgha and appointed by several elder bhikkhus, saying: "When the Blessed One has passed away, this one will be our refuge," to whom we would now turn.'
And being asked: 'But being thus without a refuge, worthy Ānanda, what is the cause of your harmony in the Dhamma?' — you said: 'We are not without a refuge, brahmin; we have a refuge, brahmin: the Dhamma is our refuge.'
How then, worthy Ānanda, should the meaning of this statement be seen?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.