[120] When this was said, the Venerable Mahākaccāna said this to the lay follower (upāsaka) Soṇa Koṭikaṇṇa: "It is difficult, Soṇa, to live the holy life (brahmacariya) — with one meal a day and sleeping alone — for as long as life lasts. Come now, Soṇa, while remaining a householder right there, devote yourself to the teaching of the Buddhas — to the holy life of one meal a day and sleeping alone on the appropriate occasions." Then the determination to go forth (pabbajjābhisaṅkhāra) that had formed in the lay follower Soṇa Koṭikaṇṇa subsided. A second time, while the lay follower Soṇa Koṭikaṇṇa was alone in seclusion, this reflection arose in his mind: "In whatever way Master Mahākaccāna teaches the Dhamma, it is not easy for one dwelling in a house to live the holy life absolutely perfect, absolutely pure, like a polished conch shell (saṅkhalikhita). Suppose I were to shave off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes (kāsāya), and go forth from the household life into homelessness." A second time the lay follower Soṇa Koṭikaṇṇa approached the Venerable Mahākaccāna; having approached and paid homage to the Venerable Mahākaccāna, he sat down at one side. Sitting at one side, the lay follower Soṇa Koṭikaṇṇa said this to the Venerable Mahākaccāna: "Here, venerable sir, while I was alone in seclusion, this reflection arose in my mind: 'In whatever way Master Mahākaccāna teaches the Dhamma, it is not easy for one dwelling in a house to live the holy life absolutely perfect, absolutely pure, like a polished conch shell. Suppose I were to shave off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and go forth from the household life into homelessness.' Venerable sir, may Master Mahākaccāna give me the going forth (pabbajjā)." A second time the Venerable Mahākaccāna said this to the lay follower Soṇa Koṭikaṇṇa: "It is difficult, Soṇa, to live the holy life — with one meal a day and sleeping alone — for as long as life lasts. Come now, Soṇa, while remaining a householder right there, devote yourself to the teaching of the Buddhas — to the holy life of one meal a day and sleeping alone on the appropriate occasions." A second time the determination to go forth that had formed in the lay follower Soṇa Koṭikaṇṇa subsided. A third time, while the lay follower Soṇa Koṭikaṇṇa was alone in seclusion, this reflection arose in his mind: "In whatever way Master Mahākaccāna teaches the Dhamma, it is not easy for one dwelling in a house to live the holy life absolutely perfect, absolutely pure, like a polished conch shell. Suppose I were to shave off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and go forth from the household life into homelessness." A third time the lay follower Soṇa Koṭikaṇṇa approached the Venerable Mahākaccāna; having approached and paid homage to the Venerable Mahākaccāna, he sat down at one side. Sitting at one side, the lay follower Soṇa Koṭikaṇṇa said this to the Venerable Mahākaccāna: "Here, venerable sir, while I was alone in seclusion, this reflection arose in my mind: 'In whatever way Master Mahākaccāna teaches the Dhamma, it is not easy for one dwelling in a house to live the holy life absolutely perfect, absolutely pure, like a polished conch shell. Suppose I were to shave off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and go forth from the household life into homelessness.' Venerable sir, may Master Mahākaccāna give me the going forth." Then the Venerable Mahākaccāna gave the lay follower Soṇa Koṭikaṇṇa the going forth.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.