[89] Then the Blessed One, having stayed at Kusinārā for as long as he wished, set out on tour for Ātumā together with a great Saṅgha of bhikkhus, with twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus. Now at that time a certain one gone forth in old age, formerly a barber, was living at Ātumā. He had two boys — sweet-spoken, quick-witted, skilled, accomplished in their own teacher's craft of barbering.
That one gone forth in old age heard: "It is said that the Blessed One is coming to Ātumā together with a great Saṅgha of bhikkhus, with twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus." Then that one gone forth in old age said to those boys: "It is said, my dears, that the Blessed One is coming to Ātumā together with a great Saṅgha of bhikkhus, with twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus. Go, my dears; taking the razor equipment, with measuring vessel and bag, wander from house to house and collect salt, oil, rice, and foods; when the Blessed One has arrived we shall make a gruel-drink (yāgu)."
"Yes, dear father," those boys replied to that one gone forth in old age; and taking the razor equipment, with measuring vessel and bag, they wandered from house to house, collecting salt, oil, rice, and foods. People, seeing those sweet-spoken, quick-witted boys, even those who did not wish to have work done had it done; and having had it done, they gave much. And so those boys collected much salt, oil, rice, and foods.
Then the Blessed One, wandering on tour by stages, arrived at Ātumā. There the Blessed One dwelt at Ātumā in the Bhūsāgāra (the chaff-house). Then that one gone forth in old age, when that night had passed, had abundant gruel prepared and offered it to the Blessed One, saying: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One accept my gruel."
Tathāgatas ask though knowing, and though knowing they do not ask; knowing the time, they ask; knowing the time, they do not ask. Tathāgatas ask what is connected with benefit, not what is unconnected with benefit; regarding what is unconnected with benefit, the bridge is demolished for Tathāgatas. For two reasons the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, question bhikkhus: "We shall teach the Dhamma," or "We shall lay down a training rule for the disciples."
Then the Blessed One said to that one gone forth in old age: "Bhikkhu, where is this gruel from?" Then that one gone forth in old age informed the Blessed One of this matter.
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "Foolish man, it is unsuitable, not in accordance, improper, unworthy of an ascetic, not allowable, not to be done. How indeed can you, foolish man, one gone forth, encourage others in what is not allowable? This, foolish man, is not for the arousing of confidence in those without confidence …" Having rebuked him and given a talk on the Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, one gone forth should not encourage others in what is not allowable; whoever should so encourage commits an offense of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa). And, bhikkhus, one formerly a barber should not keep razor equipment; whoever should keep it commits an offense of wrong-doing."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.