Dhammapada 1.7.p3

1.7.p3

Tameko paṇḍitapuriso dhammaṃ sutvā ‘‘acchariyā vata bho, abbhutā vata bho dhammadesanā, sukāraṇaṃ kathitaṃ, mayā imāsaṃ dvinnaṃ sampattīnaṃ nipphādakaṃ kammaṃ kātuṃ vaṭṭatī’’ti cintetvā – ‘‘bhante, sve mayhaṃ bhikkhaṃ gaṇhathā’’ti theraṃ nimantesi. ‘‘Kittakehi te bhikkhūhi attho upāsakā’’ti. ‘‘Kittakā pana vo, bhante, parivārā’’ti? ‘‘Sahassamattā upāsakā’’ti. ‘‘Sabbehi saddhiṃyeva sve bhikkhaṃ gaṇhatha, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Thero adhivāsesi’’. Upāsako nagaravīthiyaṃ caranto – ‘‘ammā, tātā, mayā bhikkhusahassaṃ nimantitaṃ, tumhe kittakānaṃ bhikkhūnaṃ bhikkhaṃ dātuṃ sakkhissatha, tumhe kittakāna’’nti samādapesi. Manussā attano attano pahonakaniyāmena – ‘‘mayaṃ dasannaṃ dassāma, mayaṃ vīsatiyā, mayaṃ satassā’’ti āhaṃsu. Upāsako – ‘‘tena hi ekasmiṃ ṭhāne samāgamaṃ katvā ekatova parivisissāma, sabbe tilataṇḍulasappimadhuphāṇitādīni samāharathā’’ti ekasmiṃ ṭhāne samāharāpesi.

A certain wise man heard him and thought to himself, "Sir, the preaching of the Law is indeed a wonderful thing; well has the means of happiness been expounded. It behooves me to do works of merit productive of these two Attainments." So he invited the Elder to take a meal with him, saying, "Reverend Sir, accept my hospitality for to-morrow." "How many monks have you need of, lay disciple?" "But how many monks are there in your retinue, Reverend Sir?" "A thousand, lay disciple." "Bring all your monks with you to-morrow and accept my hospitality, Reverend Sir." The Elder accepted the invitation.

The lay disciple went through the street of the city urging others to give alms, saying, "Men and women, I have invited a thousand monks. How many monks will you be able to provide with food? how many will you?" The people promised to provide food, each according to his means, saying, "We will give to ten; we will give to twenty; we will give to a hundred." The lay disciple then directed them to bring their offerings to one place, saying, "Well then, let us assemble in one place and cook the food as one body. All of you bring together in one place the sesame, rice, ghee, molasses, and other articles of food."