[84] Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Vesālī for as long as he wished, set out on tour toward Bhaddiya together with a great Saṅgha of bhikkhus, with twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus. Then the Blessed One, wandering on tour by stages, arrived at Bhaddiya. There the Blessed One dwelt at Bhaddiya in the Jātiyā Grove.
The householder Meṇḍaka heard: "Indeed, sirs, the ascetic Gotama, the son of the Sakyans, gone forth from the Sakyan clan, has arrived at Bhaddiya and is dwelling at Bhaddiya in the Jātiyā Grove. Now concerning that Master Gotama such a fair report of fame has spread abroad: 'Thus indeed is that Blessed One: an accomplished one (arahaṃ), a Perfectly Enlightened One, endowed with true knowledge (vijjā) and conduct, a Fortunate One, a knower of the world, an unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, a teacher of devas and humans, an Enlightened One, a Blessed One. Having realized it himself with direct knowledge, he makes it known to this world with its devas, its Māras, and its Brahmās, to this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its devas and humans. He teaches the Dhamma that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good at the end; he proclaims the holy life, complete in its entirety and pure, with its meaning and its phrasing. Good indeed is the sight of accomplished ones such as that.'"
Then the householder Meṇḍaka had a number of fine carriages harnessed, mounted a fine carriage, and with the fine carriages drove out from Bhaddiya to see the Blessed One. Many adherents of other sects (titthiyā) saw the householder Meṇḍaka coming in the distance; having seen him, they said to the householder Meṇḍaka: "Where are you going, householder?" "I am going, venerable sirs, to see the ascetic Gotama." "But why would you, householder, being one who affirms the doctrine of action (kiriyavāda), go to see the ascetic Gotama, who affirms the doctrine of non-action (akiriyavāda)? For, householder, the ascetic Gotama affirms the doctrine of non-action; he teaches a Dhamma of non-action, and by that he trains his disciples."
Then it occurred to the householder Meṇḍaka: "Without doubt that Blessed One must be an accomplished one, a Perfectly Enlightened One, seeing how these sectarians are envious." Having gone by carriage as far as the ground was passable for carriages, he dismounted from the carriage and approached the Blessed One on foot; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. As the householder Meṇḍaka sat to one side, the Blessed One gave him a progressive discourse (anupubbīkathā), that is: talk on giving, talk on virtue, talk on the heavens; he made known the danger, the degradation, and the defilement of sensual pleasures, and the benefit of renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that the householder Meṇḍaka's mind was ready, pliant, free of the hindrances (nīvaraṇa), uplifted, and confident, then he made known that Dhamma teaching which the Buddhas themselves have raised up: suffering (dukkha), its origin, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth free of stains would properly take the dye, even so, in that very seat, there arose in the householder Meṇḍaka the dust-free, stainless eye of Dhamma (dhammacakkhu): "Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation."
Then the householder Meṇḍaka, having seen the Dhamma, attained the Dhamma, understood the Dhamma, and penetrated the Dhamma, having crossed over doubt (vicikicchā), rid of perplexity, having attained self-confidence, independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation, said this to the Blessed One: "Excellent, venerable sir! Excellent, venerable sir! Just as one might set upright what has been overturned, or uncover what has been concealed, or point out the way to one who is lost, or hold up an oil lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes may see forms, even so has the Dhamma been made clear in many ways by the Blessed One. I go to the Blessed One for refuge, 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 forward. And may the Blessed One, venerable sir, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, consent to accept tomorrow's meal from me." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then the householder Meṇḍaka, understanding 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, when that night had passed, the householder Meṇḍaka 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 in the morning the Blessed One dressed, took his bowl and robe, and went to the residence of the householder Meṇḍaka; having arrived, he sat down on the seat prepared, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus.
Then the wife, the son, the daughter-in-law, and the slave of the householder Meṇḍaka approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. The Blessed One gave them a progressive discourse, that is: talk on giving, talk on virtue, talk on the heavens; he made known the danger, the degradation, and the defilement of sensual pleasures, and the benefit of renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that their minds were ready, pliant, free of the hindrances, uplifted, and confident, then he made known that Dhamma teaching which the Buddhas themselves have raised up: suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth free of stains would properly take the dye, even so, in that very seat, there arose in them the dust-free, stainless eye of Dhamma: "Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation."
Having seen the Dhamma, attained the Dhamma, understood the Dhamma, and penetrated the Dhamma, having crossed over doubt, rid of perplexity, having attained self-confidence, independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation, they said this to the Blessed One: "Excellent, venerable sir! Excellent, venerable sir! Just as one might set upright what has been overturned, or uncover what has been concealed, or point out the way to one who is lost, or hold up an oil lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes may see forms, even so has the Dhamma been made clear in many ways by the Blessed One. We here go to the Blessed One for refuge, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the Blessed One remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life from this day forward."
Then the householder Meṇḍaka, 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 eating and had withdrawn his hand from the bowl, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the householder Meṇḍaka said this to the Blessed One: "For as long, venerable sir, as the Blessed One dwells at Bhaddiya, [so long shall I serve] the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with a regular meal." Then the Blessed One, having instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened the householder Meṇḍaka with a talk on Dhamma, rose from his seat and departed.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.