[172] "Yes, friend," those bhikkhus replied to the Venerable Ānanda, and rising from their seats they approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, those bhikkhus said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the Blessed One, having recited to us a summary statement (uddesa) in brief without analyzing its meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling, saying: 'Bhikkhus, I do not say that the end of the world can 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).'
"Not long after the Blessed One had departed, venerable sir, it occurred to us: 'Friends, the Blessed One, having recited to us this summary statement in brief without analyzing its meaning in detail, has risen from his seat and entered the dwelling, saying: "Bhikkhus, I do not say that the end of the world can 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 summary statement recited in brief by the Blessed One, its meaning not analyzed in detail?'
"Then, venerable sir, 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 summary statement recited in brief by the Blessed One, its meaning not analyzed in detail. Suppose we were to approach the Venerable Ānanda and question him about this matter.' Then, venerable sir, we approached the Venerable Ānanda and questioned him about this matter. And the Venerable Ānanda analyzed the meaning for us in these ways, with these terms, with these phrasings."
"Ānanda is wise, bhikkhus; Ānanda is of great wisdom, bhikkhus. If you had questioned me about this matter, I too would have answered it in just the same way that Ānanda has answered it. Such indeed is its meaning, and thus you should remember it."
The third [sutta].
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.