[135] Now at that time the Blessed One's body was clogged with unwholesome humours (dosābhisanna). Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Ānanda, the Tathāgata's body is clogged with unwholesome humours. The Tathāgata wishes to take a purgative."
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached Jīvaka Komārabhacca, and having approached, he said this to Jīvaka Komārabhacca: "Friend Jīvaka, the Tathāgata's body is clogged with unwholesome humours. The Tathāgata wishes to take a purgative." "Well then, honoured Ānanda, treat the Blessed One's body with oil for a few days."
Then the Venerable Ānanda, having treated the Blessed One's body with oil for a few days, approached Jīvaka Komārabhacca, and having approached, he said this to Jīvaka Komārabhacca: "Friend Jīvaka, the Tathāgata's body has been treated with oil. Now do whatever you think it is time to do."
Then it occurred to Jīvaka Komārabhacca: "It would not be proper for me to give the Blessed One a coarse purgative. What if I were to impregnate three handfuls of lotuses with various medicines and offer them to the Tathāgata?" Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, having impregnated three handfuls of lotuses with various medicines, approached the Blessed One, and having approached, he offered one handful of lotuses to the Blessed One, saying: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One sniff this first handful of lotuses; this will purge the Blessed One ten times." He offered a second handful of lotuses to the Blessed One, saying: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One sniff this second handful of lotuses; this will purge the Blessed One ten times." He offered a third handful of lotuses to the Blessed One, saying: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One sniff this third handful of lotuses; this will purge the Blessed One ten times. Thus the Blessed One will have a purging of exactly thirty times."
Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, having given the Blessed One a purgative for exactly thirty times, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side towards him, and departed. Then, when Jīvaka Komārabhacca had gone out beyond the gateway, it occurred to him: "I have given the Blessed One a purgative for exactly thirty times. The Tathāgata's body is clogged with unwholesome humours; it will not purge the Blessed One a full thirty times — it will purge the Blessed One twenty-nine times. But when the Blessed One has been purged, he will bathe, and having bathed, the Blessed One will be purged once more. Thus the Blessed One will have a purging of exactly thirty times."
Then the Blessed One, knowing with his own mind the reflection in the mind of Jīvaka Komārabhacca, addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Here, Ānanda, when Jīvaka Komārabhacca had gone out beyond the gateway, it occurred to him: 'I have given the Blessed One a purgative for exactly thirty times. The Tathāgata's body is clogged with unwholesome humours; it will not purge the Blessed One a full thirty times — it will purge the Blessed One twenty-nine times. But when the Blessed One has been purged, he will bathe, and having bathed, the Blessed One will be purged once more. Thus the Blessed One will have a purging of exactly thirty times.' Therefore, Ānanda, prepare hot water."
"Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and he prepared hot water.
Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca approached the Blessed One, and having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Jīvaka Komārabhacca said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, has the Blessed One been purged?"
"I have been purged, Jīvaka."
"Venerable sir, when I had gone out beyond the gateway, it occurred to me: 'I have given the Blessed One a purgative for exactly thirty times. The Tathāgata's body is clogged with unwholesome humours; it will not purge the Blessed One a full thirty times — it will purge the Blessed One twenty-nine times. But when the Blessed One has been purged, he will bathe, and having bathed, the Blessed One will be purged once more. Thus the Blessed One will have a purging of exactly thirty times.' Venerable sir, may the Blessed One bathe; may the Sublime One bathe."
Then the Blessed One bathed in hot water, and when he had bathed, he was purged once more. Thus the Blessed One had a purging of exactly thirty times. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, until the Blessed One's body is restored to normal, food of broth alone will suffice." Then before long the Blessed One's body was restored to normal.
Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, taking that pair of Sivi-cloths (siveyyaka), approached the Blessed One, and having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Jīvaka Komārabhacca said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I ask one boon of the Blessed One."
"Jīvaka, the Tathāgatas have passed beyond the granting of boons."
"Venerable sir, it is one that is allowable and blameless."
"Speak, Jīvaka."
"Venerable sir, the Blessed One and the Saṅgha of bhikkhus wear rag-robes (paṃsukūlika). Venerable sir, this pair of Sivi-cloths of mine was sent to me by King Pajjota; of many cloths, many pairs of cloths, many hundreds of pairs of cloths, many thousands of pairs of cloths, many hundreds of thousands of pairs of cloths, it is the foremost, the best, the most eminent, the highest, the most excellent. Venerable sir, may the Blessed One accept my pair of Sivi-cloths, and may he allow householder's robe-cloth (gahapaticīvara) for the Saṅgha of bhikkhus."
The Blessed One accepted the pair of Sivi-cloths. Then the Blessed One instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened Jīvaka Komārabhacca with talk on the Dhamma. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side towards him, and departed.
Then the Blessed One, on account of this occasion, on account of this incident, having given a talk on the Dhamma, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, I allow householder's robe-cloth. Whoever wishes may be a rag-robe wearer; whoever wishes may consent to householder's robe-cloth. And, bhikkhus, I praise contentment with whatever is at hand."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.