[58] Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Rājagaha for as long as he wished, set out on a walking tour toward Bārāṇasī, and walking on tour by stages, he arrived at Bārāṇasī. There the Blessed One dwelt at Bārāṇasī, in the Deer Park at Isipatana. Now at that time in Bārāṇasī, Suppiya the lay follower (upāsaka) and Suppiyā the laywoman follower (upāsikā) were both full of confidence; they were donors, workers, and attendants of the Saṅgha. Then Suppiyā the laywoman follower, having gone to the monastery, approaching dwelling after dwelling and cell after cell, asked the bhikkhus: "Venerable sirs, who is sick? For whom may what be brought?"
Now at that time a certain bhikkhu had drunk a purgative. Then that bhikkhu said to Suppiyā the laywoman follower: "Sister, I have drunk a purgative; I have need of meat broth (paṭicchādanīya)."
Saying, "Very well, noble sir, it shall be brought," she went to her house and ordered a servant: "Go, my man, find out where there is meat already on sale (pavattamaṃsa)." "Yes, mistress," that man replied in assent to Suppiyā the laywoman follower; but wandering through the whole of Bārāṇasī, he saw no meat on sale. Then that man approached Suppiyā the laywoman follower, and having approached, he said to Suppiyā the laywoman follower: "Mistress, there is no meat on sale; today is a non-slaughter day (māghāta)."
Then it occurred to Suppiyā the laywoman follower: "If that sick bhikkhu does not obtain meat broth, his ailment will increase or he will die. It is not fitting for me that, having given my assent, I should not have it brought." Taking a butcher's knife, she cut flesh from her own thigh and gave it to her slave woman, saying: "Here, girl—prepare this meat, and in such-and-such a dwelling there is a sick bhikkhu: give it to him. And if anyone asks after me, announce that I am sick." Then, wrapping her thigh with her upper garment, she entered her inner chamber and lay down upon a bed.
Then Suppiya the lay follower, having gone to the house, asked the slave woman: "Where is Suppiyā?" "She is lying in the inner chamber, master." Then Suppiya the lay follower approached Suppiyā the laywoman follower, and having approached, he said to Suppiyā the laywoman follower: "Why are you lying down?" "I am sick." "What is your ailment?" Then Suppiyā the laywoman follower told this matter to Suppiya the lay follower.
Then Suppiya the lay follower, thinking, "It is wonderful indeed, sirs, it is marvelous indeed, sirs, how full of faith and confidence this Suppiyā is, in that she has given up even her own flesh! What else whatsoever could there be that she would not give?"—glad and elated, approached the Blessed One, and having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Suppiya the lay follower said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus consent to accept tomorrow's meal from me." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then Suppiya the lay follower, having understood the Blessed One's consent, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side toward him, and departed.
Then Suppiya the lay follower, when that night had passed, having had excellent hard and soft food prepared, had the time announced to the Blessed One: "It is time, venerable sir; the meal is ready." Then the Blessed One, in the morning, having dressed and taking his bowl and robe, approached the residence of Suppiya the lay follower, and having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Then Suppiya the lay follower approached the Blessed One, and having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he stood to one side. As Suppiya the lay follower stood to one side, the Blessed One said this to him: "Where is Suppiyā?" "She is sick, Blessed One." "Then let her come." "She is not able, Blessed One." "Then, supporting her, bring her here." Then Suppiya the lay follower, supporting Suppiyā the laywoman follower, brought her.
At the very sight of the Blessed One, that great wound of hers was healed over, with fair skin and with hair grown upon it. Then Suppiya the lay follower and Suppiyā the laywoman follower, saying, "It is wonderful indeed, sirs, it is marvelous indeed, sirs—the great psychic power, the great majesty of the Tathāgata, in that at the very sight of the Blessed One so great a wound should be healed over, with fair skin and with hair grown upon it!"—glad and elated, having with their own hands served and satisfied the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with excellent hard and soft food, when the Blessed One had finished eating and had withdrawn his hand from the bowl, sat down to one side. Then the Blessed One, having instructed, inspired, roused, and gladdened Suppiya the lay follower and Suppiyā the laywoman follower with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat and departed.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.