1Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Rājagaha, in Bamboo Wood, at the Squirrels’ Feeding Place. Then at that time venerable Mahākassapa was dwelling in the Pepper Cave, and was afflicted, suffering, and very sick.

Then venerable Mahākassapa at another time arose from that affliction. Then this occured to venerable Mahākassapa when he arose from that affliction: "Well now, I should enter Rājagaha for alms."

2Then at that time five hundred devatās were ready and eager to offer almsfood to venerable Mahākassapa. But venerable Mahākassapa, after refusing those five hundred devatās, having dressed in the morning time, after picking up his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms, going to the poor streets, to the wretched streets, to the weaver's streets.

The Gracious One saw venerable Mahākassapa walking for alms in Rājagaha, going to the poor streets, to the wretched streets, to the weaver's streets.

3Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ​   ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā mahākassapo pippaliguhāyaṁ viharati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.

Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo aparena samayena tamhā ābādhā vuṭṭhāsi. Atha kho āyasmato mahākassapassa tamhā ābādhā vuṭṭhitassa etadahosi:  "yannūnāhaṁ rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya paviseyyan"ti.

2Tena kho pana samayena pañcamattāni devatāsatāni ussukkaṁ āpannāni honti āyasmato mahākassapassa piṇḍapātapaṭilābhāya. Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo tāni pañcamattāni devatāsatāni paṭikkhipitvā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi – yena daliddavisikhā kapaṇavisikhā pesakāravisikhā.

Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ mahākassapaṁ rājagahe piṇḍāya carantaṁ yena daliddavisikhā kapaṇavisikhā pesakāravisikhā.

3Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: 

Chaṭṭhaṁ.