佛說處處經 1.47

1.47

佛言：「本侍佛者字彌喜，次字須那察多，次字阿難。」佛告諸比丘：「我年老欲得一人侍我。」舍利弗、摩訶迦葉、目揵連等，各自願侍佛。佛言：「不得。」摩訶迦葉、目揵連，因禪思惟，知佛欲得阿難，便呼阿難言：「卿當侍佛。」阿難言：「我不敢侍佛，我不能侍佛。」目揵連言：「不得不侍佛。」阿難言：「當聽我四事：一者、佛餘衣我不欲受；二者、佛餘飯我不用；三者、若有人請佛，諸比丘不行，我亦不行；四者、佛坐禪思道時，我當出入得自在。」佛言：「大善，聽汝所願。」於是阿難因侍佛，是故阿難獨能問佛。

The Buddha said: "The one who originally attended the Buddha was named Meghiya; the next was named Sunakkhatta; the next was named Ānanda." The Buddha told the monks: "I am old and wish to have someone attend me." Śāriputra, Mahākāśyapa, Maudgalyāyana, and others each volunteered to attend the Buddha. The Buddha said: "It cannot be." Mahākāśyapa and Maudgalyāyana, through meditative contemplation, knew that the Buddha wanted Ānanda, and called Ānanda, saying: "You should attend the Buddha." Ānanda said: "I do not dare to attend the Buddha; I am unable to attend the Buddha." Maudgalyāyana said: "You must attend the Buddha." Ānanda said: "You must grant me four things: first, I do not wish to accept the Buddha's leftover robes; second, I have no use for the Buddha's leftover food; third, if someone invites the Buddha and the other monks do not go, I also will not go; fourth, when the Buddha sits in meditation contemplating the Way, I must have freedom to enter and exit." The Buddha said: "Very good! I grant what you wish." Thereupon Ānanda attended the Buddha; for this reason, Ānanda alone could question the Buddha.