佛祖統紀 3.125

3.125

In the thirty-fourth year (gui-chou), thirty years having passed since the Buddha attained enlightenment, he dwelt in the city of Rājagṛha and addressed the bhikṣus: 'Who can uphold the twelve divisions of scripture for me and attend to my personal service?' At that time, Kauṇḍinya said: 'I can attend to your needs.' The Buddha said: 'You are already old and decrepit; how could you serve me?' And so on, up to the five hundred arhats, none of whom were accepted. Maudgalyāyana entered samādhi and saw that the Tathāgata's mind was set upon Ānanda, like the sun at its first rising shedding its light upon the western wall. He informed Kauṇḍinya, and Kauṇḍinya said to Ānanda: 'You should now serve the Tathāgata.' Ānanda said: 'I pray that the Tathāgata grant me three wishes: first, not to receive the Tathāgata's used robes; second, not to accompany the Tathāgata to receive separate invitations; third, to permit me to enter and exit at any time.' The Buddha said: 'Excellent! You are endowed with wisdom and foresee reproach. Why? If someone were to say, "You serve the Tathāgata for the sake of food and clothing," therefore you do not accept used robes or accompany separate invitations. If there were fixed times for entering and exiting, you could not broadly benefit the four assemblies; hence you seek to enter and exit without fixed times. I grant these three requests for Ānanda.' (Nirvāṇa Sūtra.)