[55] Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Rājagaha for as long as he wished, set out on tour toward Sāvatthī; wandering on tour by stages, he arrived at Sāvatthī. There the Blessed One dwelt at Sāvatthī, in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time the venerable Sāriputta was afflicted with a fever of the body. Then the venerable Mahāmoggallāna approached the venerable Sāriputta; having approached, he said this to the venerable Sāriputta: "Formerly, friend Sāriputta, when you had this fever of the body, by what means did you find comfort?"
"By lotus stalks (bhisa), friend, and by lotus roots (mūlālikā)."
Then the venerable Mahāmoggallāna—just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm—vanished from the Jetavana and appeared on the bank of the Mandākinī lotus pond. A certain elephant (nāga) saw the venerable Mahāmoggallāna coming from afar; having seen him, it said this to the venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Let the master Mahāmoggallāna come, venerable sir! Welcome, venerable sir, to the master Mahāmoggallāna! What does the master need, venerable sir? What shall I give?"
"I have need, friend, of lotus stalks and lotus roots."
Then that elephant commanded another elephant: "Well then, my good fellow, give the master lotus stalks and lotus roots, as much as he needs." Then that elephant, plunging into the Mandākinī lotus pond, pulled up lotus stalks and lotus roots with its trunk, washed them thoroughly clean, bound them into a bundle, and approached the venerable Mahāmoggallāna. Then the venerable Mahāmoggallāna—just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm—vanished from the bank of the Mandākinī lotus pond and appeared in the Jetavana. That elephant too vanished from the bank of the Mandākinī lotus pond and appeared in the Jetavana. Then that elephant, having got the venerable Mahāmoggallāna to accept the lotus stalks and lotus roots, vanished from the Jetavana and appeared on the bank of the Mandākinī lotus pond. Then the venerable Mahāmoggallāna presented the lotus stalks and lotus roots to the venerable Sāriputta. Then, when the venerable Sāriputta had eaten the lotus stalks and lotus roots, the fever of the body subsided. And many lotus stalks and lotus roots were left over.
Now at that time, during the famine, bhikkhus refused further food even over a small amount, and refused even upon reflection, so that the whole Saṅgha had refused further food (pavārita). The bhikkhus, being scrupulous, did not accept them.
"Accept them, bhikkhus, and eat. I allow, bhikkhus, one who has eaten and refused further food to eat what grows in the forest and what grows in a lotus pond, even though it is not left over (anatiritta)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.