(Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Nadika in the brick house ... Now on that occasion Venerable Aṇarudha and Venerable Ṇadia and Venerable Kibhira were living in a Grove of the Cow-Horn Śāla-tree Forest).

... they established.

2 (Whichever of those venerables) returns (first from the village for the sake of seeking alms-food), he 3 (approaches the refectory and, having approached, he prepares the seats), he sets out the (drinking water pitcher), [and] sets out the plates, he gets the water for washing from the water basin, (... he sets out the leftovers container. Having put aside any leftovers, he eats) 4 [and] departs.

Whichever of those venerables (returns) last 5 (from the village for the sake of seeking) alms, (if there is enough food in his bowl, he eats it. If) there is (not enough), he takes from the leftovers container 6 (and eats it. He puts the seats away in their right place); he puts (the drinking water pot) away (in its right place); he (puts) the washing water pot away in its right place; 7 (and having washed and) put the (leftovers container) away in its (right) place, [and] having swept the ground, he 8 (departs ... and enters the ...).

… together with … [If] he were to see [that the pots were empty], he would attend [to them]. The one who 9 … The one who … one … a second 10 … would spend [all night] with talk on the Dharma.

10 Then, when it was evening (time) the Blessed One, 11 (having arisen from meditation), approached (the Grove of the Gos̱iga Śāla-tree Forest). The grove keeper saw the Blessed One (coming) in the distance, 12 (and having seen him, said this to the Blessed One: “Ascetic, do not) enter this grove! Due to the fact that there are three clansmen living there, 13 (Aṇarudha, Ṇadia and Kibhira. You must not disturb them!)”

The Venerable Aṇarudha, withdrawn [and] in meditation 14 (with the divine ear which is purified and surpasses the human) heard (the grove keeper) conversing thus with (the Blessed One). Then, Venerable 15 (Aṇarudha said to the grove keeper: “Park keeper! Do not) obstruct (the Blessed One)! It is my Teacher, the Blessed One, [who] has arrived.”

Then Ven16erable (Aṇarudha thus entered the park, and having entered) went to (Venerable) Ṇadia and Venerable Kibhira, 17 (and having gone to them, and paid homage at their feet, sat to one side. Seated to one side, he said this: “Come out, Venerable sirs, come) out, Venerable sirs! My teacher, the Blessed One, has arrived.” (Having assented) ‘Yes, friend,’ 18 (Venerable Ṇadia and Venerable Kibhira) stood up from their seats. Then Venerable Aṇarudha, Venerable 19 (Ṇadia and Venerable Kibhira went out to meet the Blessed One, and said this: “Venerable sir, we bid the Blessed One welcome.” Venerable) Aṇarudha took the Blessed One’s bowl and outer robe, Venerable Ṇadia (prepared) a bed and seat for the Blessed One, 20 (and Venerable Kibhira set out water for washing feet).

(The Blessed One sat down) on the seat made perfectly ready and, having sat down, the Blessed One 21 (said this) to Venerable (Aṇarudha: “I hope you are all keeping well, Aṇarudha, I hope you are all comfortable, I hope you are) not going short (of alms-food).” Aṇarudha “Yes, certainly, Venerable sir, we are all keeping well, yes, certainly we are all comfort22able, (yes, certainly we are not going short of alms-food).”

Buddha “(I hope you are all living in concord, with mutual appreciation).” Aṇarudha “Yes, certainly, Venerable sir, we are all living in concord, with mutual appreciation. As to that, I (had this thought 23: ‘It is for my gain, for my great gain, in that I make my abode with such companions in the holy life).’ Therefore, I maintain bodily acts of loving-kindness towards those venerable ones 24 (both openly and privately ... verbal acts of loving-kindness ... mental acts of loving-kindness ... Therefore, I had this thought): ‘Suppose I, having put aside my own intention, (should do what) these venerable ones wish [to do].’ 25 (Thus, Venerable sir, having put aside my own intention, I do what these venerable ones wish to do, as we are different in body), I think, but one in mind.”

Venerable Ṇadia and Venerable Kibhira 26 (said this to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, as to that, I had this thought: ‘It is for the gain, for the great gain) [that] I am able to make my abode (with such) companions in the holy life.’ I 27 (maintain bodily acts of loving-kindness towards those venerable ones, both openly and privately ... verbal acts of loving-kindness ... mental acts of loving-kindness. Therefore, I had the thought): ‘Suppose I, having put aside my own intention, should (do) what these venerable ones wish [to do].’ 28 (Thus, Venerable sir, having put aside my own intention, I do what these venerable ones wish to do, as we are different in body but one in mind).”

Buddha “(Well done, well done! Aṇarudha monks! I hope, you Aṇarudha monks, while) you indeed are living (in concord thus), with mutual appreciation, that there is, surpassing the human state, (the attainment) of a distinct 29 (comfortable abiding.” Aṇarudha “In this way, Venerable sir), while (we) are living (in concord thus, with mutual appreciation), there is, surpassing the human state, (the attainment of) a distinct 30 (comfortable abiding. Here, Venerable sir, whenever we want) we enter and abide in the first dhyāna, which is quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from sinful, unwholesome 31 (states, which is accompanied by thought and examination), with rapture and pleasure born (of seclusion). In this way, 32 (Venerable sir, while we indeed are living in concord thus, with mutual appreciation, this is, surpassing the human state), the attainment of a distinct comfortable abiding.”

Buddha “Well done, well done! Aṇarudha [monks]! 33 (I hope, you Aṇarudha monks), by surmounting (that abiding), by making [that abiding] subside, surpassing the human (state), that there is (the attainment) of another 34 (distinct comfortable abiding?” Aṇarudha “In this way, Venerable sir), while (we) are living in concord thus, with mutual appreciation 35 (by surmounting that abiding, by making that abiding subside, there is, surpassing the human state), the attainment of (another) distinct comfortable abiding. Here, Venerable sir, whenever we 36 (want, by the subsiding of thought and examination, on account of internal placidity, and) the unification (of mind, we enter and abide) in the second dhyāna, which is without thought, without examination [and] has rapture and pleasure that is concentrated. 37 (In this way, Venerable sir), while (we) are living (in concord thus, with mutual appreciation), by surmounting that abiding, 38 (by making that abiding subside, this is, surpassing the human state), the attainment of (another distinct comfortable abiding).”

Buddha “Well done! Aṇarudha [monks]! I hope, [you] Aṇarudha [monks], while you (are living) in concord thus, with mutual appreciation, 39 (by surmounting that abiding, by making that abiding subside, that there is), surpassing the human state, (the attainment) of another distinct comfortable abiding?” Aṇarudha 40 (In this way, Venerable sir, while we indeed are living in concord thus, with mutual appreciation), by surmounting that abiding, by making [that abiding] subside, 41 (there is, surpassing the human state, the attainment of another distinct comfortable abiding. Here), Venerable sir, whenever (we) want, with the fading away as well of rapture, (we abide) having equanimity, 42 (being mindful and clearly comprehending, we experience happiness with the body. Such that the noble ones) declare: 'He has equanimity, is mindful, is one who abides happily.' (We) enter and (abide) in the third dhyāna. 43 (In this way, Venerable sir, while we indeed are living in concord thus, with mutual appreciation), by surmounting that abiding, by making [that abiding] subside, this is, surpassing the 44 (human state, the attainment of) another (distinct comfortable abiding)."

Buddha … Aṇarudha "… (as far as) the fourth dhyāna [and] thus, as far as …"

Buddha “Well done! Aṇarudha [monks]! I hope, [you] Aṇarudha [monks], while you are 45 (living in concord thus, with mutual appreciation), by surmounting (that) abiding, by making [that abiding] subside, surpassing (the human state), that there is another 46 (distinct comfortable abiding, which has been attained?” Aṇarudha “In this way, Venerable sir, while we) are living in concord thus, with mutual appreciation, there is, 47 (surpassing the human state, the attainment of) another (distinct comfortable abiding. Here, Venerable sir), whenever we want, with the complete surmounting of perceptions of forms, 48 (with the passing away of perceptions of sensory impingement, with non-attention to perceptions of diversity), perceiving ‘space is infinite,’ we enter and abide in the base of the end of space. 49 (In this way, Venerable sir, while we indeed are living in concord thus, with mutual appreciation), by surmounting that abiding, by making [that abiding] subside, this is, 50 (surpassing the human state, the attainment of) another (distinct comfortable abiding).”

Buddha ... Aṇarudha (... as far as) “By completely surmounting the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, (we enter upon and abide) in the cessation of perception and feeling. 51 (By seeing with wisdom, we are ones whose taints are destroyed.” … as far as Buddha “Well done, well done, Aṇarudha! There is not) beyond that a higher comfortable abiding.”

Then the Blessed One instructed, urged, roused [and] (gladdened) Venerable Aṇarudha, 52 (Venerable Ṇadia and Venerable Kibhira) with a talk on the Dharma. 53 (Then, the Blessed One, having instructed, urged,) roused [and] gladdened (those venerable ones), [and] having arisen from his seat, departed.

54 (Then Venerable Aṇarudha, Venerable Ṇadia and Venerable Kibhira), having accompanied the Blessed One for a short while, and so returning from there 55 (Venerable Ṇadia and Venerable Kibhira approached Venerable Aṇarudha, and having approached him paid homage to his feet), sat down (to one side). Seated to one side, Venerable 56 (Ṇadia and Venerable Kibhira said this to Venerable Aṇarudha): “Have we ever, having approached you, (reported) this (matter) to the Venerable Aṇarudha 57: ‘(We, dwelling with these various attainments), have our taints destroyed by our seeing with wisdom,’ such that, 58 the Venerable (Aṇarudha in the Blessed One’s presence revealed about us, as far as the destruction of the taints)?”

Aṇarudha “[You] venerable ones, having (never) approached me and reported this matter: 59 ‘(We, dwelling with these various attainments, have our taints) destroyed (by our seeing with wisdom).’ For a long time the venerable ones’ 60 (thoughts were known) by me using [my very own] mind: ‘(You venerable ones, dwelling with these various attainments), have your taints destroyed by your seeing with wisdom.’ The deities, 61 (having approached me, reported this matter) to me: ‘(Those venerable ones, dwelling with these various) attainments, have [their] taints destroyed by seeing with wisdom.’ 62 (Such that, I in the Blessed One’s presence revealed about you, as far as the destruction of the taints).”

Then the Blessed One, having gone by the road for a short while, (and having left) the road, 63 sat down (near the base of a certain tree) on the very seat prepared [for him]. Then the spirit Driga 64 (approached the Blessed One. Having approached) [him], having paid homage (to the feet of the Blessed One), stood to one side. Standing to one side, (the deity) Driga 65 (said this to the Blessed One: “It is for the gain of the Vṛji people, for the great gain of the Vṛji people), in that these three clansmen, Aṇarudha, Ṇadia and Kibhira, live there.” Buddha 66 “(It is so, Driga, it is so! It is for the gain of the Vṛji people, for the great gain of the Vṛji people) in that these three clansmen, Aṇarudha, Ṇadia and Kibhira, live there.

67 (If the clan from which these three clansmen went forth from the home life into homelessness) remember these three clansmen with a confident heart, [then] for this clan 68 (... for a long time that would be for their welfare) and happiness. [If] the [extended] family circle from which … [If] the village from which … 69 (If the town from which … If the country from which these three clansmen went forth from the home life into homelessness remember these three clansmen with a confident heart, then for that country that would lead to its welfare and) happiness (for a long time).

In which case, if the world as well, with its gods, its Māras, and its Brāhmas, 70 (and this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its devas and its humans) should remember (these three clansmen) with a confident heart, [then] for the world with its gods, its Māras, 71 (and its Brāhmas, and for this population with its ascetics and brahmins), its gods and its humans, that would lead to their welfare and happiness for a long time.”

Then 72 (having heard the utterance of the spirit Driga, the earth gods raised their voices and proclaimed the utterance): “It is for the gain of the Vṛji people, for the great gain of the Vṛji people in that these three clansmen 73 (Aṇarudha, Ṇadia and Kibhira live here.” … the gods of the Four Great Kings … gods of the heaven of the Thirty)-three … the Yāma gods … the gods of the Tuṣita [heaven] … the gods who delight in creating 74 … (the gods who delight in others’ creations … The gods of Brahmā’s retinue) heard the utterance (of the gods who delight in others’ creations) [and] raised their voices [and] proclaimed the utterance: “…” Thus, those 75 (venerable ones at that moment, in a second, in an instant) were announced (as far as the Brahmā) world.”

That is what the Blessed One said. Pleased, 76 (the spirit Driga rejoiced at the words of the Blessed One).