[204] **"I ask you, Blessed One; tell it to me" (pucchāmi taṃ Bhagavā brūhi me taṃ).** "I ask": there are three kinds of question: a question to illuminate what has not been seen (adiṭṭhajotanā pucchā), a question to compare with what has been seen (diṭṭhasaṃsandanā pucchā), and a question to cut off perplexity (vimaticchedanā pucchā) … These are the three questions … a question about Nibbāna.
"I ask you": I ask you, I beg you, I invite you, I entreat your favor, saying, "Declare it to me" — thus, "I ask you."
"Blessed One (Bhagavā)": this is a term of reverence … this, namely "Bhagavā," is a designation based on realization (sacchikā paññatti).
"Tell it to me": tell, point out, teach, make known, establish, disclose, analyze, make plain, explain it — thus, "I ask you, Blessed One; tell it to me."
"So (icca) the venerable Dhotaka": "icca" is a connective of words (padasandhi). "Venerable (āyasmā)" is a term of affection. "Dhotaka" is that brahmin's name … a term of address (abhilāpa) — thus, "so said the venerable Dhotaka."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.