[199] Now at that time the merchant (seṭṭhī) of Rājagaha went to a pleasure garden early in the morning. The merchant of Rājagaha saw those bhikkhus emerging early in the morning from this place and that—from the forest, from the foot of a tree, from a mountain, from a mountain glen, from a mountain cave, from a charnel ground, from a forest thicket, from the open air, from a heap of straw—inspiring confidence in their going forward and returning, in their looking ahead and looking aside, in their bending and stretching, with eyes downcast, accomplished in the postures (iriyāpatha). On seeing them, his mind (citta) gained confidence. Then the merchant of Rājagaha approached those bhikkhus, and having approached, said this to those bhikkhus: "Venerable sirs, if I were to build dwellings (vihāra), would you dwell in my dwellings?"
"Householder, dwellings have not been allowed by the Blessed One."
"Then, venerable sirs, having asked the Blessed One, please inform me."
"Very well, householder," those bhikkhus assented to the merchant of Rājagaha; then they approached the Blessed One, and having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those bhikkhus said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the merchant of Rājagaha wishes to have dwellings built. How, venerable sir, should we proceed?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.