Dighanikaya 0.35

0.35

Yadi evaṃ sekkhopi samāno dhammasaṅgītiyā bahukārattā therena uccinitabbo assa, atha kasmā na uccinitoti? Parūpavādavivajjanato. Thero hi āyasmante ānande ativiya vissattho ahosi, tathā hi naṃ sirasmiṃ palitesu jātesupi ‘na vāyaṃ kumārako mattamaññāsī’ti, (saṃ. ni. 2.154) kumārakavādena ovadati. Sakyakulappasuto cāyasmā tathāgatassa bhātā cūḷapituputto. Tattha keci bhikkhū chandāgamanaṃ viya maññamānā – ‘‘bahū asekkhapaṭisambhidāppatte bhikkhū ṭhapetvā ānandaṃ sekkhapaṭisambhidāppattaṃ thero uccinī’’ti upavadeyyuṃ. Taṃ parūpavādaṃ parivajjento, ‘ānandaṃ vinā dhammasaṅgītiṃ na sakkā kātuṃ, bhikkhūnaṃyeva naṃ anumatiyā gahessāmī’ti na uccini.

If so, although being a trainee, since he was of great help to the Dhamma recitation, he should have been selected by the Elder. Why then was he not selected? Because of avoiding blame from others. For the Elder was exceedingly familiar with Venerable Ānanda; so much so that even when gray hairs had grown on his head, he admonished him with the word 'boy': "Does this boy not know moderation?" And that venerable one, born of the Sakyan clan, was a brother and cousin of the Tathāgata. In that regard, some bhikkhus, suspecting favoritism, might have blamed him, saying: "Setting aside many bhikkhus who are beyond training and have attained analytical knowledge, the Elder selected Ānanda who is a trainee who has attained analytical knowledge." Avoiding that blame from others, thinking, 'Without Ānanda it is not possible to hold the Dhamma recitation; I will include him only by the consent of the bhikkhus,' he did not select him.