Dighanikaya 4.301-302

4.301-302

Bahū bahū hutvā saṃhatāti saṅghā. Ekekissāya disāya saṅgho etesaṃ atthīti saṅghī. Pubbe nagarassa anto agaṇā bahi nikkhamitvā gaṇataṃ pattāti gaṇībhūtā. Khattaṃ āmantesīti. Khattā vuccati pucchitapañhe byākaraṇasamattho mahāmatto, taṃ āmantesi āgamentūti muhuttaṃ paṭimānentu, mā gacchantūti vuttaṃ hoti.

"Band upon band": having become many and combined, they are bands. "In groups": they have a group in each direction, hence 'in groups'. "Gathered into companies": previously they were without companies inside the city, but having come outside, they attained the state of being a company, hence 'gathered into companies'. "Addressed the herald": 'herald' (khattā) refers to a minister capable of answering questions that are asked; he addressed him. "Let them wait": let them wait for a moment, do not let them go—this is what is said.