[378] Sela the brahmin, together with his assembly, received the going forth (pabbajjā) in the presence of the Blessed One; he received the higher ordination (upasampadā).
Then, when that night had passed, Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic (jaṭila) had fine hard and soft food prepared in his own hermitage and had the time announced to the Blessed One: "It is time, Master Gotama; the meal is ready." Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the morning and taking his bowl and robe, went to the hermitage of Keṇiya the jaṭila; having arrived, he sat down on the seat that had been prepared, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Then Keṇiya the jaṭila, with his own hands, served and satisfied the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with fine hard and soft food. Then, when the Blessed One had finished his meal and had withdrawn his hand from the bowl, Keṇiya the jaṭila took a certain low seat and sat down to one side. And as Keṇiya the jaṭila sat to one side, the Blessed One expressed his appreciation (anumodanā) to him with these verses:
"The fire oblation (aggihutta) is the chief of sacrifices (yañña);
the Sāvitti is the chief of Vedic metres;
a king is the chief of human beings;
the ocean is the chief of rivers;
the moon is the chief of the constellations;
the sun is the chief of things that shine;
for those who sacrifice, aspiring to merit (puñña),
the Saṅgha truly is the chief."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.