[248] Then the Blessed One, standing right there in the midst of the Saṅgha, having spoken these verses, went towards Bālakaloṇakāragāma. Now at that time the Venerable Bhagu was dwelling at Bālakaloṇakāragāma. The Venerable Bhagu saw the Blessed One coming from afar; having seen him, he prepared a seat, set out water for the feet, a footstool, and a foot-scraper, went out to meet him, and received his bowl and robe. The Blessed One sat down on the seat prepared, and having sat down, washed his feet. The Venerable Bhagu, having paid homage to the Blessed One, sat down to one side. As the Venerable Bhagu sat to one side, the Blessed One said this to him: "Bhikkhu, is it bearable? Is it sustainable? Are you not wearied by almsfood?"
"It is bearable, Blessed One; it is sustainable, Blessed One; and I, venerable sir, am not wearied by almsfood."
Then the Blessed One, having instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened the Venerable Bhagu with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat and went towards the Pācīnavaṃsa Grove.
Now at that time the Venerable Anuruddha, the Venerable Nandiya, and the Venerable Kimbila were dwelling in the Pācīnavaṃsa Grove. The grove keeper saw the Blessed One coming from afar; having seen him, he said this to the Blessed One: "Do not enter this grove, ascetic. There are three clansmen dwelling here who seem desirous of their own good; do not cause them discomfort."
The Venerable Anuruddha heard the grove keeper conferring with the Blessed One; having heard, he said this to the grove keeper: "Friend grove keeper, do not turn the Blessed One away. Our Teacher, the Blessed One, has arrived." Then the Venerable Anuruddha approached the Venerable Nandiya and the Venerable Kimbila; having approached, he said this to the Venerable Nandiya and the Venerable Kimbila: "Come forth, venerable ones! Come forth, venerable ones! Our Teacher, the Blessed One, has arrived." Then the Venerable Anuruddha, the Venerable Nandiya, and the Venerable Kimbila went out to meet the Blessed One: one received the Blessed One's bowl and robe, one prepared a seat, one set out water for the feet, a footstool, and a foot-scraper. The Blessed One sat down on the seat prepared, and having sat down, washed his feet. Those venerable ones, having paid homage to the Blessed One, sat down to one side. As the Venerable Anuruddha sat to one side, the Blessed One said this to him: "Anuruddhas, is it bearable for you? Is it sustainable? Are you not wearied by almsfood?"
"It is bearable, Blessed One; it is sustainable, Blessed One; and we, venerable sir, are not wearied by almsfood."
"But, Anuruddhas, do you dwell in concord, in mutual appreciation, without dispute, blending like milk and water, regarding one another with eyes of affection?"
"Indeed, venerable sir, we dwell in concord, in mutual appreciation, without dispute, blending like milk and water, regarding one another with eyes of affection."
"But how, Anuruddhas, do you dwell in concord, in mutual appreciation, without dispute, blending like milk and water, regarding one another with eyes of affection?"
"Here, venerable sir, it occurs to me thus: 'It is a gain for me, it is well gained by me, that I dwell together with such companions in the holy life.' Towards these venerable ones I maintain bodily acts of loving-kindness, both openly and in private; I maintain verbal acts of loving-kindness and mental acts of loving-kindness, both openly and in private. It occurs to me thus, venerable sir: 'Why should I not set aside my own mind (citta) and proceed according to the mind of these venerable ones alone?' So I, venerable sir, set aside my own mind and proceed according to the mind of these venerable ones alone. Truly, venerable sir, our bodies are different, but our mind, I think, is one."
The Venerable Nandiya too and the Venerable Kimbila too said this to the Blessed One: "For me too, venerable sir, it occurs thus: 'It is a gain for me, it is well gained by me, that I dwell together with such companions in the holy life.' Towards these venerable ones I maintain bodily acts of loving-kindness, both openly and in private; I maintain verbal acts of loving-kindness and mental acts of loving-kindness, both openly and in private. It occurs to me thus, venerable sir: 'Why should I not set aside my own mind and proceed according to the mind of these venerable ones alone?' So I, venerable sir, set aside my own mind and proceed according to the mind of these venerable ones alone. Truly, venerable sir, our bodies are different, but our mind, I think, is one. It is in this way, venerable sir, that we dwell in concord, in mutual appreciation, without dispute, blending like milk and water, regarding one another with eyes of affection."
"But, Anuruddhas, do you dwell heedful, ardent (ātāpī), and resolute?"
"Indeed, venerable sir, we dwell heedful, ardent, and resolute."
"But how, Anuruddhas, do you dwell heedful, ardent, and resolute?"
"Here, venerable sir, whichever of us returns first from the village with almsfood prepares a seat, sets out water for the feet, a footstool, and a foot-scraper, washes the refuse bowl and sets it in place, and sets out water for drinking and water for washing. Whichever returns last from the village with almsfood eats, if he wishes, whatever remains of the meal; if he does not wish, he discards it where there is no green growth or drops it into water without living creatures. He puts away the seat, puts away the water for the feet, the footstool, and the foot-scraper, washes the refuse bowl and puts it away, puts away the water for drinking and the water for washing, and sweeps the refectory. Whoever sees that the pot of drinking water, the pot of washing water, or the pot of water for the latrine is empty and void sets it in place; if it is beyond his strength, he summons a second by a gesture of the hand, and we set it in place by the joining of hands—but we do not, venerable sir, on that account break into speech. And every five days, venerable sir, we sit together through the whole night in talk on the Dhamma. It is in this way, venerable sir, that we dwell heedful, ardent, and resolute."
Then the Blessed One, having instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened the Venerable Anuruddha, the Venerable Nandiya, and the Venerable Kimbila with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat and set out on tour towards Pārileyyaka; wandering on tour by stages, he arrived at Pārileyyaka. There the Blessed One dwelt at Pārileyyaka, in the Rakkhita forest grove, at the foot of the Bhaddasāla tree.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.