[494] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time the laywoman (upāsikā) Kāṇamātā was faithful and devoted. Kāṇā had been given in marriage to a certain man in a village. Then Kāṇā went to her mother's house on some business. Then Kāṇā's husband sent a messenger to Kāṇā, saying, "Let Kāṇā come; I wish for Kāṇā's return." Then the laywoman Kāṇamātā, thinking, "How could she go empty-handed?" cooked a cake. When the cake was cooked, a certain bhikkhu walking for alms entered the dwelling of the laywoman Kāṇamātā. Then the laywoman Kāṇamātā had a cake given to that bhikkhu. Having gone out, he told another. To him too she had a cake given. Having gone out, he told another. To him too she had a cake given. The cake, as much as had been prepared, came to be exhausted.
A second time Kāṇā's husband sent a messenger to Kāṇā, saying, "Let Kāṇā come; I wish for Kāṇā's return." A second time the laywoman Kāṇamātā, thinking, "How could she go empty-handed?" cooked a cake. When the cake was cooked, a certain bhikkhu walking for alms entered the dwelling of the laywoman Kāṇamātā. Then the laywoman Kāṇamātā had a cake given to that bhikkhu. Having gone out, he told another. To him too she had a cake given. Having gone out, he told another. To him too she had a cake given. The cake, as much as had been prepared, came to be exhausted.
A third time Kāṇā's husband sent a messenger to Kāṇā, saying, "Let Kāṇā come; I wish for Kāṇā's return. If Kāṇā does not come, I will bring home another wife." A third time the laywoman Kāṇamātā, thinking, "How could she go empty-handed?" cooked a cake. When the cake was cooked, a certain bhikkhu walking for alms entered the dwelling of the laywoman Kāṇamātā. Then the laywoman Kāṇamātā had a cake given to that bhikkhu. Having gone out, he told another. To him too she had a cake given. Having gone out, he told another. To him too she had a cake given. The cake, as much as had been prepared, came to be exhausted.
Then Kāṇā's husband brought home another wife. Kāṇā heard, "It is said that another wife has been brought home by that man." She stood weeping.
Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of the laywoman Kāṇamātā; having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared. Then the laywoman Kāṇamātā approached the Blessed One; having approached, having paid homage to the Blessed One, she sat down to one side. As the laywoman Kāṇamātā sat to one side, the Blessed One said this to her: "Why does this Kāṇā weep?" Then the laywoman Kāṇamātā reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, having instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened the laywoman Kāṇamātā with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat and departed.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.