[170] Then those bhikkhus approached the Venerable Ānanda; having approached, they exchanged greetings with the Venerable Ānanda, and when they had concluded their courteous and amiable talk, they sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, those bhikkhus said to the Venerable Ānanda: "Friend Ānanda, the Blessed One, having recited this synopsis (uddesa) in brief without analyzing the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered his dwelling: 'Bhikkhus, I do not say that the end of the world is to be known, seen, or reached by traveling; yet, bhikkhus, I do not say that without having reached the end of the world there is a making of an end of suffering (dukkha).' Then, friend, not long after the Blessed One had departed, it occurred to us: 'Friends, the Blessed One, having recited this synopsis in brief without analyzing the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered his dwelling: "Bhikkhus, I do not say that the end of the world is to be known, seen, or reached by traveling; yet, bhikkhus, I do not say that without having reached the end of the world there is a making of an end of suffering." Who now might analyze in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, whose meaning has not been analyzed in detail?' Then, friend, it occurred to us: 'This Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by his wise companions in the holy life, and the Venerable Ānanda is capable of analyzing in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, whose meaning has not been analyzed in detail. Suppose we were to approach the Venerable Ānanda and, having approached, question the Venerable Ānanda about this matter.' Let the Venerable Ānanda analyze it."
"Friends, suppose a man needing heartwood, seeking heartwood, wandering in search of heartwood, should pass over the very root and pass over the trunk of a great standing tree possessed of heartwood, and think that heartwood is to be sought among its branches and foliage — such is the case here with you venerable ones: though the Teacher was present face to face, you passed by the Blessed One and think that this matter should be asked of me. For, friends, that Blessed One, knowing, knows; seeing, sees; he has become vision, become knowledge (ñāṇa), become Dhamma, become Brahmā; he is the speaker, the proclaimer, the elucidator of the meaning, the giver of the Deathless (amata), the lord of the Dhamma, the Tathāgata. That was the very time when you should have questioned the Blessed One himself about this matter; as the Blessed One answered you, so you should have remembered it."
"Surely, friend Ānanda, the Blessed One, knowing, knows; seeing, sees; he has become vision, become knowledge, become Dhamma, become Brahmā; he is the speaker, the proclaimer, the elucidator of the meaning, the giver of the Deathless, the lord of the Dhamma, the Tathāgata. That was the very time when we should have questioned the Blessed One himself about this matter, and as the Blessed One answered us, so we should have remembered it. Yet the Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by his wise companions in the holy life, and the Venerable Ānanda is capable of analyzing in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, which has not been analyzed in detail. Let the Venerable Ānanda analyze it, without finding it troublesome."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.