Dighanikaya 0.37

0.37

‘‘Bhikkhū āyasmantaṃ mahākassapaṃ etadavocuṃ – ‘ayaṃ, bhante, āyasmā ānando kiñcāpi sekkho abhabbo chandā dosā mohā bhayā agatiṃ gantuṃ, bahu cānena bhagavato santike dhammo ca vinayo ca pariyatto, tena hi, bhante, thero āyasmantampi ānandaṃ uccinatū’ti. Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo āyasmantampi ānandaṃ uccinī’’ti (cūḷava. 437).

"The bhikkhus said to Venerable Mahākassapa: 'Venerable sir, this Venerable Ānanda, although still a trainee, is incapable of going astray through desire, hatred, delusion, or fear; and much Dhamma and Vinaya has been mastered by him in the presence of the Blessed One. Well then, venerable sir, let the Elder select Venerable Ānanda as well.' Then Venerable Mahākassapa selected Venerable Ānanda as well."