[284] Now on that occasion — it being the Uposatha day of the fifteenth, on the full-moon night, the full moon of the Komudī of the fourth month — the Blessed One was seated in the open air, surrounded by the Saṅgha of bhikkhus (bhikkhu). Then the Blessed One, having surveyed the silent Saṅgha of bhikkhus, addressed the bhikkhus:
"Bhikkhus, this assembly is without chaff; bhikkhus, this assembly is free of chaff; it is established in the pure heartwood. Such, bhikkhus, is this Saṅgha of bhikkhus; such, bhikkhus, is this assembly — an assembly such as is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world. Such, bhikkhus, is this Saṅgha of bhikkhus; such, bhikkhus, is this assembly — an assembly such that little given to it becomes much, and much given becomes still more. Such, bhikkhus, is this Saṅgha of bhikkhus; such, bhikkhus, is this assembly — an assembly such as is hard for the world to get to see. Such, bhikkhus, is this Saṅgha of bhikkhus; such, bhikkhus, is this assembly — an assembly such as is worth traveling many yojanas to see, even with one's provisions carried in a shoulder-bag."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.