[256] Now at that time the householder Anāthapiṇḍika had many friends, many companions, and his word was trusted. Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, having concluded that business in Rājagaha, set out for Sāvatthī. And along the road the householder Anāthapiṇḍika instructed the people: "Sirs, build parks, establish dwellings, institute gifts; a Buddha has now arisen in the world, and that Blessed One has been invited by me and will come by this road." Then those people, urged on by the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, built parks, established dwellings, and instituted gifts.
Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, having gone to Sāvatthī, surveyed Sāvatthī on all sides, thinking: "Where might the Blessed One dwell — a place neither too far from the village nor too near, provided with ways for going and coming, accessible to people whenever they wish to come, uncrowded by day, quiet at night with little noise, with an air free of people, fit for human privacy, suitable for retreat?" The householder Anāthapiṇḍika saw the pleasure-garden of Prince Jeta — neither too far from the village nor too near, provided with ways for going and coming, accessible to people whenever they wish to come, uncrowded by day, quiet at night with little noise, with an air free of people, fit for human privacy, suitable for retreat — and having seen it, he approached Prince Jeta; having approached, he said to Prince Jeta: "Young master, give me the pleasure-garden to make a park."
"The park is not to be given, householder — not even for a covering of a koṭi [ten million]."
"The park is taken, young master."
"The park is not taken, householder."
They asked the chief ministers of justice (vohārika mahāmatta): "Is it taken, or not taken?" The chief ministers said thus: "Since a price was set by you, young master, the park is taken."
Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika had gold coin carried out in carts and had a covering of a koṭi spread over the Jetavana. The gold brought out at one time did not suffice for a small space in the vicinity of the gateway. Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika instructed the men: "Go, sirs, fetch gold; we shall cover this space."
Then it occurred to Prince Jeta: "This will be no trifling matter, seeing that this householder is giving away so much gold." Then Prince Jeta said to the householder Anāthapiṇḍika: "Enough, householder; do not have this space covered. Give me this space — this shall be my gift." Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika thought: "This Prince Jeta is eminent, a well-known man; and of great efficacy indeed is the confidence of such well-known men in this Dhamma and Discipline." And he gave that space to Prince Jeta. Then Prince Jeta had a gateway built upon that space.
Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika had dwellings built in the Jetavana; he had cells built, had gateways built, had attendance halls built, had fire halls built, had huts for allowable stores built, had privies built, had walking-meditation paths built, had walking-meditation halls built, had wells built, had well-halls built, had bathhouses built, had bathhouse-halls built, had lotus ponds built, and had pavilions built.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.