(Mv.VI.30.3) Then the Licchavis of Vesālī heard, “The Blessed One, they say, has arrived at Koṭi Village”

Then, having auspicious vehicles yoked, the Licchavis mounted the auspicious vehicles and set out from Vesālī with [in?] the auspicious vehicles to see the Blessed One. Now, some of those Licchavis were dark blue — with dark blue complexions, dark blue clothing, & dark blue ornaments. Some of those Licchavis were yellow — with yellow complexions, yellow clothing, & yellow ornaments. Some of those Licchavis were red — with red complexions, red clothing, & red ornaments. Some of those Licchavis were white — with white complexions, white clothing, & white ornaments. Then Ambapālī the courtesan, driving pole to pole, yoke to yoke, wheel to wheel, axle to axle, brought those young Licchavis to a halt.

(Mv.VI.30.4) So those Licchavis said to her, “Hey, Ambapālī, why are you driving pole to pole, yoke to yoke, wheel to wheel, axle to axle — bringing us young Licchavis to a halt?”

“Because, young masters, I have invited the Blessed One, together with the Saṅgha of monks, for tomorrow’s meal!”

“Give us that meal, Ambapālī, for 100,000!”

“Even if the young masters gave me Vesālī with its revenue, I still wouldn’t give up that(1) meal!”

Then the Licchavis snapped their fingers: “How we’ve been totally defeated by Little Mango! How we’ve been totally defeated by Little Mango!”

(Mv.VI.30.5) Then the Licchavis went to the Blessed One. The Blessed One saw them coming from afar and, on seeing them, he said to the monks, “Those monks who have never before seen the devas of the Thirty-three, look at the assembly of Licchavis! Gaze at the assembly of Licchavis! Regard the assembly of Licchavis as like the assembly of the Thirty-three!”

Then the Licchavis, going in their vehicles as far as there was ground for vehicles, got down from their vehicles and approached the Blessed One on foot. On arrival, having bowed down to him, they sat to one side. As they were sitting there, the Blessed One instructed, urged, roused, & encouraged them with a Dhamma talk. Then the Licchavis — instructed, urged, roused, and encouraged by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk — said to him, “Lord, may the Blessed One acquiesce to our meal tomorrow, together with the Saṅgha of monks.”

“Licchavis, I have already acquiesced to Ambapālī the courtesan’s meal tomorrow.”

Then the Licchavis snapped their fingers: “How we’ve been totally defeated by Little Mango! How we’ve been totally defeated by Little Mango!”

Then the Licchavis, delighting in and approving of the Blessed One’s words, got up from their seats, bowed down to him, circumambulated him, keeping him to their right, and left.

(Mv.VI.30.6) Then the Blessed One, having stayed at Koṭi Village as long as he liked, went to Nādika. There at Nādika the Blessed One stayed at the Brick House(2).

Then Ambapālī the courtesan, at the end of the night — after having exquisite staple and non-staple food prepared in her own garden — announced the time to the Blessed One: “It’s time, lord. The meal is ready.”

Then the Blessed One, early in the morning, adjusted his under robe and — carrying his bowl & outer robe — went to Ambapālī the courtesan’s meal offering. On arrival, he sat down on a seat laid out, along with the Saṅgha of monks. Ambapālī the courtesan, with her own hands, served and satisfied the Saṅgha of monks, with the Buddha at its head, with exquisite staple and non-staple food. Then, when the Blessed One had finished his meal and withdrawn his hand from the bowl, taking a low seat, she sat to one side. As she was sitting there, she said to the Blessed One, “Lord, I give this Ambapāli Grove to the Saṅgha of monks with the Buddha at its head.”

The Blessed One accepted the garden. Then the Blessed One — having instructed, urged, roused, & encouraged Ambapālī the courtesan with a Dhamma talk — got up from his seat and left.(3)

There at Vesālī the Blessed One stayed in the Hall with the Peaked Roof in the Great Forest.