[95] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time some thirty bhikkhus from Pāṭheyya — all forest-dwellers, all almsfood-eaters, all rag-robe wearers, all wearers of only the triple robe — journeying to Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One, with the day for entering the rains residence (vassūpanāyikā) drawing near, were unable to reach Sāvatthī in time for entering the rains residence, and so they entered upon the rains along the way, at Sāketa. They spent the rains residence in a state of longing: "The Blessed One is dwelling near us, six yojanas from here, and yet we do not get to see the Blessed One."
Then those bhikkhus, having completed the rains residence, when the three months had passed and the Pavāraṇā had been performed — while the rain-deva was still pouring down, with water gathered everywhere and mires of watery mud, their robes soaked through with water, weary in body — went to Sāvatthī, to the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery, to where the Blessed One was; and having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down to one side.
Now it is the custom of Buddhas, Blessed Ones, to exchange friendly greetings with incoming bhikkhus. Then the Blessed One said this to those bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, I hope you are bearing up; I hope you are keeping going; I hope that in concord, in mutual harmony, without dispute, you spent a comfortable rains residence and were not troubled for almsfood?"
"We are bearing up, Blessed One; we are keeping going, Blessed One. And we, venerable sir, in concord, in mutual harmony, without dispute, spent the rains residence and were not troubled for almsfood. Here, venerable sir, we, some thirty bhikkhus from Pāṭheyya, coming to Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One, with the day for entering the rains residence drawing near, were unable to reach Sāvatthī in time for entering the rains residence, and so we entered upon the rains along the way, at Sāketa. We, venerable sir, spent the rains residence in a state of longing: 'The Blessed One is dwelling near us, six yojanas from here, and yet we do not get to see the Blessed One.' Then, venerable sir, having completed the rains residence, when the three months had passed and the Pavāraṇā had been performed — while the rain-deva was still pouring down, with water gathered everywhere and mires of watery mud, our robes soaked through with water, weary in body — we have come along the road."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.