[77] Ambapālī the courtesan heard: "The Blessed One, it is said, has arrived at Koṭigāma." Then Ambapālī the courtesan, having had a number of fine carriages harnessed, mounted a fine carriage, and with the fine carriages set out from Vesālī to see the Blessed One. Having gone by carriage as far as the ground was passable for carriages, she descended from the carriage and approached the Blessed One on foot; having approached, she paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. As she sat to one side, the Blessed One instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened Ambapālī the courtesan with a talk on the Dhamma. Then Ambapālī the courtesan, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, said this to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One, venerable sir, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, consent to my meal tomorrow." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then Ambapālī the courtesan, understanding the Blessed One's consent, rose from her seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping her right side toward him, and departed.
The Licchavis of Vesālī heard: "The Blessed One, it is said, has arrived at Koṭigāma." Then the Licchavis of Vesālī, having had a number of fine carriages harnessed, mounted the fine carriages, and with the fine carriages set out from Vesālī to see the Blessed One. Some Licchavis were blue — of blue complexion, with blue garments and blue ornaments; some Licchavis were yellow — of yellow complexion, with yellow garments and yellow ornaments; some Licchavis were red — of red complexion, with red garments and red ornaments; some Licchavis were white — of white complexion, with white garments and white ornaments. Then Ambapālī the courtesan drove up against the young Licchavis, pole against pole, yoke against yoke, wheel against wheel, axle against axle. Then those Licchavis said this to Ambapālī the courtesan: "Why, woman Ambapāli, do you drive against us young Licchavis, pole against pole, yoke against yoke, wheel against wheel, axle against axle?" "Because, young masters, the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha has been invited by me for tomorrow's meal." "Give us that meal, woman Ambapāli, for a hundred thousand." "Even if, young masters, you were to give me Vesālī together with its revenue-lands, I would not give up that meal." Then those Licchavis snapped their fingers: "We have been beaten, sirs, by the mango-woman! We have been beaten, sirs, by the mango-woman!" Then those Licchavis approached the Blessed One. The Blessed One saw those Licchavis coming from afar, and seeing them he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who have never before seen the Tāvatiṃsa devas — look, bhikkhus, at the assembly of the Licchavis; behold, bhikkhus, the assembly of the Licchavis; compare, bhikkhus, the assembly of the Licchavis with the assembly of the Tāvatiṃsa." Then those Licchavis, having gone by carriage as far as the ground was passable for carriages, descended from the carriages and approached the Blessed One on foot; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. As they sat to one side, the Blessed One instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened those Licchavis with a talk on the Dhamma. Then those Licchavis, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, said this to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One, venerable sir, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, consent to our meal tomorrow." "Licchavis, I have accepted tomorrow's meal from Ambapālī the courtesan." Then those Licchavis snapped their fingers: "We have been beaten, sirs, by the mango-woman! We have been beaten, sirs, by the mango-woman!" Then those Licchavis, having delighted in and approved of the Blessed One's words, rose from their seats, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping their right side toward him, and departed.
Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Koṭigāma for as long as he wished, went to Nādikā. There at Nādikā the Blessed One dwelt in the Brick House (Giñjakāvasatha). Then Ambapālī the courtesan, when that night had passed, had excellent hard and soft food prepared in her own park, and had the time announced to the Blessed One: "It is time, venerable sir; the meal is ready." Then, in the morning, the Blessed One dressed, and taking his bowl and robe, went to the place of Ambapālī the courtesan's meal-offering; having arrived, he sat down on the appointed seat together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Then Ambapālī the courtesan, with her own hand, served and satisfied the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with excellent hard and soft food; and when the Blessed One had finished eating and had withdrawn his hand from the bowl, she sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Ambapālī the courtesan said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I give this Ambapālī Grove to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha." The Blessed One accepted the park. Then the Blessed One, having instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened Ambapālī the courtesan with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat and went to the Great Wood (Mahāvana). There the Blessed One dwelt at Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Hall of the Peaked Gable (Kūṭāgārasālā).
The Licchavi Recitation Section (Licchavibhāṇavāra) is concluded.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.