[364] 4.
Having seen the supreme among men walking in meditation
in the shadow of the mansion,
I approached him there
and paid homage to that supreme person.
Arranging my robe over one shoulder
and joining my palms together,¹
I walked along behind the stainless one,
the supreme among all beings.
Then he asked me questions —
he who is skilled in questions, the knower;
undaunted and unafraid,
I answered the Teacher.
When the questions had been answered,
the Tathāgata rejoiced;
surveying the Saṅgha of bhikkhus,
he spoke this matter:
"A gain it is for the people of Aṅga and Magadha,
whose robe and almsfood,
requisites and lodging this one enjoys —
and the respectful rising and proper service:
a gain for them," he declared.
"From this day forth,² Sopāka,
come to see me;
and let this itself, Sopāka,
be your full ordination (upasampadā)."
Seven years from birth,
having obtained full ordination,
I bear my final body —
oh, the excellence of the Dhamma!
Sopāka the Elder.
¹ Ma. and Yu. read "saṃharitvāna". ² Yu. reads "ajjadagge".
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.