[138] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, the park of Anāthapiṇḍika. Now on that occasion the Venerable Pilindavaccha was having a mountain overhang (pabbhāra) cleared at Rājagaha, wishing to make a cave-dwelling (lena).
Then Seniya Bimbisāra, King of Magadha, approached the Venerable Pilindavaccha; having approached, he paid homage to the Venerable Pilindavaccha and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Seniya Bimbisāra, King of Magadha, said this to the Venerable Pilindavaccha: "What, venerable sir, is the elder having done?"
"I am having a mountain overhang cleared, great king, wishing to make a cave-dwelling."
"Venerable sir, does the master have need of a monastery attendant (ārāmika)?"
"Great king, a monastery attendant has not been allowed by the Blessed One."
"Then, venerable sir, having inquired of the Blessed One, please inform me."
"Very well, great king," the Venerable Pilindavaccha assented to Seniya Bimbisāra, King of Magadha. Then the Venerable Pilindavaccha instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened Seniya Bimbisāra, King of Magadha, with a talk on the Dhamma. Then Seniya Bimbisāra, King of Magadha—having been instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the Venerable Pilindavaccha with a talk on the Dhamma—rose from his seat, paid homage to the Venerable Pilindavaccha, circumambulated him keeping his right side towards him, and departed.
Then the Venerable Pilindavaccha sent a messenger to the presence of the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, Seniya Bimbisāra, King of Magadha, wishes to give a monastery attendant. How, venerable sir, should one proceed?" Then the Blessed One, on that ground, on that occasion, having had the community of bhikkhus assembled and having given a talk on the Dhamma, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, I allow a monastery attendant."
A second time Seniya Bimbisāra, King of Magadha, approached the Venerable Pilindavaccha; having approached, he paid homage to the Venerable Pilindavaccha and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Seniya Bimbisāra, King of Magadha, said this to the Venerable Pilindavaccha: "Venerable sir, has a monastery attendant been allowed by the Blessed One?"
"Yes, great king."
"Then, venerable sir, I give the master a monastery attendant."
Then Seniya Bimbisāra, King of Magadha, having promised the Venerable Pilindavaccha a monastery attendant, forgot; and after a long time, having recovered his memory, he addressed a certain chief minister in charge of all affairs: "I say, has that monastery attendant whom I promised and gave to the master been given?"
"No, sire, a monastery attendant has not been given to the master."
"How long, I say, in nights, is it since then?"
Then that chief minister, having counted the nights, said this to Seniya Bimbisāra, King of Magadha: "Five hundred nights, sire."
"Then, I say, give the master five hundred monastery attendants."
"Yes, sire," that chief minister assented to Seniya Bimbisāra, King of Magadha, and gave the Venerable Pilindavaccha five hundred monastery attendants. A separate village established itself. They called it "Ārāmikagāmaka" (the Monastery Attendants' Village), and they also called it "Pilindavacchagāmaka" (Pilindavaccha's Village).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.