[447] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Eastern Park (Pubbārāma), in the mansion of Migāra's mother. Now on that occasion — it being the Uposatha day, the fifteenth — the Blessed One was seated surrounded by the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Then the Venerable Ānanda, when the night was far advanced and the first watch had passed, rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms in the direction of the Blessed One, and said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the night is far advanced; the first watch has passed; the Saṅgha of bhikkhus has been sitting long. Venerable sir, let the Blessed One recite the Pātimokkha to the bhikkhus." When this was said, the Blessed One remained silent.
A second time, the Venerable Ānanda, when the night was far advanced and the middle watch had passed, rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms in the direction of the Blessed One, and said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the night is far advanced; the middle watch has passed; the Saṅgha of bhikkhus has been sitting long. Venerable sir, let the Blessed One recite the Pātimokkha to the bhikkhus."
A second time the Blessed One remained silent.
A third time, the Venerable Ānanda, when the night was far advanced, the last watch had passed, dawn had risen, and the night wore a face of gladness, rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms in the direction of the Blessed One, and said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the night is far advanced; the last watch has passed; dawn has risen; the night wears a face of gladness; the Saṅgha of bhikkhus has been sitting long. Venerable sir, let the Blessed One recite the Pātimokkha to the bhikkhus."
"Ānanda, the assembly is not pure."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.