[710] Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I have seen the Blessed One bearing up; I have seen the Blessed One keeping going. Yet, venerable sir, my body has become as if drugged; even the directions are not clear to me, and the teachings do not come to mind for me, on account of the Blessed One's illness. But, venerable sir, I had this much consolation: the Blessed One will not attain final Nibbāna (parinibbāna) until the Blessed One has made some pronouncement concerning the Saṅgha of bhikkhus."
"What, then, Ānanda, does the Saṅgha of bhikkhus now expect of me? The Dhamma has been taught by me, Ānanda, without making an inner and an outer. The Tathāgata has no teacher's closed fist (ācariyamuṭṭhi) with regard to the teachings. If anyone, Ānanda, should think thus: 'I shall lead the Saṅgha of bhikkhus,' or 'the Saṅgha of bhikkhus is under my direction,' it is surely he, Ānanda, who would make some pronouncement concerning the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. But, Ānanda, it does not occur to the Tathāgata thus: 'I shall lead the Saṅgha of bhikkhus,' or 'the Saṅgha of bhikkhus is under my direction.' Why, then, Ānanda, should the Tathāgata make some pronouncement concerning the Saṅgha of bhikkhus? I am now, Ānanda, old, aged, elderly, one who has traversed life's span and arrived at the last stage: my age now runs to eighty years. Just as, Ānanda, an old cart keeps going when held together with bamboo, so too, Ānanda, the body of the Tathāgata keeps going, one might think, as if held together with bamboo."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.