[80] When this was said, Sīha the general said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, venerable sir! Excellent, venerable sir! Just as if, venerable sir, one were to set upright what had been overturned, or uncover what had been concealed, or point out the way to one who was lost, or hold up an oil lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes might see forms — even so has the Dhamma been made clear by the Blessed One in many ways. I, venerable sir, go for refuge to the Blessed One, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower (upāsaka) who has gone for refuge for life, from this day forth."
"Make investigation first, Sīha, and then act. Investigating first and then acting is good for well-known persons such as you."
"By this word of the Blessed One also, venerable sir, I am pleased and gratified beyond measure, in that the Blessed One says to me: 'Make investigation first, Sīha, and then act. Investigating first and then acting is good for well-known persons such as you.' For, venerable sir, if the followers of other sects had gained me as a disciple, they would carry a banner throughout the whole of Vesālī, proclaiming: 'Sīha the general has become our disciple!' But the Blessed One says to me: 'Make investigation first, Sīha, and then act. Investigating first and then acting is good for well-known persons such as you.' I, venerable sir, for a second time go for refuge to the Blessed One, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life, from this day forth."
"For a long time, Sīha, your family has been like a wellspring for the Nigaṇṭhas; therefore you should consider that almsfood ought to be given to them when they come to you."
"By this word of the Blessed One also, venerable sir, I am pleased and gratified beyond measure, in that the Blessed One says to me: 'For a long time, Sīha, your family has been like a wellspring for the Nigaṇṭhas; therefore you should consider that almsfood ought to be given to them when they come to you.' I have heard it said, venerable sir: 'The ascetic Gotama says thus: Gifts should be given to me alone, not to others; gifts should be given to my disciples alone, not to the disciples of others; only what is given to me is of great fruit, not what is given to others; only what is given to my disciples is of great fruit, not what is given to the disciples of others.' Yet the Blessed One encourages me to give even to the Nigaṇṭhas. However, venerable sir, we shall know the proper time for that. I, venerable sir, for a third time go for refuge to the Blessed One, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life, from this day forth."
Then the Blessed One gave Sīha the general a progressive talk (anupubbīkathā), that is to say: talk on giving, talk on virtue, talk on the heavens; he made clear the danger, the degradation, and the defilement of sensual pleasures, and the benefit of renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that Sīha the general's mind was ready, pliant, free of the hindrances (nīvaraṇa), uplifted, and confident, he then made clear that Dhamma teaching which the Buddhas themselves have discovered and exalted: suffering (dukkha), its origin, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth, free from stains, would take the dye evenly, even so, as Sīha the general sat in that very seat, there arose in him the dustless, stainless eye of Dhamma (dhammacakkhu): "Whatever is subject to origination, all that is subject to cessation."
Then Sīha the general, having seen the Dhamma, attained the Dhamma, understood the Dhamma, penetrated the Dhamma, having crossed beyond doubt, with perplexity gone, having attained self-confidence, independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation, said to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, consent to accept a meal from me tomorrow." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then Sīha the general, 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 Sīha the general commanded a certain man: "Go, my good man, find out about meat that is already available." Then, when that night had passed, Sīha the general had excellent hard and soft foods prepared and 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 taken his bowl and robe, went to the residence of Sīha the general; having arrived, he sat down on the prepared seat, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Now on that occasion many Nigaṇṭhas, going from street to street and from crossroads to crossroads in Vesālī, with arms upraised, wailed: "Today Sīha the general has slain a plump beast and prepared a meal for the ascetic Gotama! The ascetic Gotama knowingly eats meat prepared on purpose for him — a deed done on his account!" Then a certain man approached Sīha the general; having approached, he informed Sīha the general in his ear: "Please know, sir, that these many Nigaṇṭhas, going from street to street and from crossroads to crossroads in Vesālī, with arms upraised, are wailing: 'Today Sīha the general has slain a plump beast and prepared a meal for the ascetic Gotama! The ascetic Gotama knowingly eats meat prepared on purpose for him — a deed done on his account!'"
"Enough, good man. For a long time those venerable ones have desired to discredit the Buddha, desired to discredit the Dhamma, desired to discredit the Saṅgha; and those venerable ones never tire of misrepresenting that Blessed One with what is baseless, empty, false, and untrue. And we would not intentionally deprive a living being of life even for the sake of our own life."
Then Sīha the general, with his own hands, served and satisfied the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with excellent hard and soft foods; and when the Blessed One had finished his meal and had withdrawn his hand from the bowl, Sīha sat down to one side. As Sīha the general sat to one side, the Blessed One instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened him with a talk on the Dhamma, then rose from his seat and departed. Then the Blessed One, having given a talk on the Dhamma in connection with that occasion, in connection with that incident, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, one should not knowingly use meat made on purpose (for oneself); whoever should use it commits an offense of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa). I allow, bhikkhus, fish and meat that is pure in three respects: unseen, unheard, and unsuspected."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.