Mahakhandhako, The Great Chapter sections 1-4

The Great Chapter - 170
‘Kaṁsi tvaṁ āvuso uddissa pabbajito,
‘On account of whom, friend, did you go forth,
ko vā te Satthā, kassa vā tvaṁ Dhammaṁ rocesī?’ ” ti
who is your teacher, what Dhamma do you prefer?’ ”
Atha kho Sāriputtassa paribbājakassa etad-ahosi:
Then this occurred to the wanderer Sāriputta:
“Akālo kho imaṁ bhikkhuṁ pucchituṁ,
“This is the wrong time to ask the monk,
antaragharaṁ paviṭṭho piṇḍāya carati.
he has entered amongst the houses for alms.
Yan-nūnāhaṁ imaṁ bhikkhuṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandheyyaṁ
Now what if I were to follow along closely behind 209 this monk
atthikehi upaññātaṁ maggan?” ti
with a desire (to find) the path he has found?”
Atha kho āyasmā Assaji, Rājagahe piṇḍāya caritvā
Then the venerable Assaji, after walking for alms in Rājagaha
piṇḍapātaṁ ādāya paṭikkami.
and taking his alms food, went back.
Atha kho Sāriputto paribbājako yenāyasmā Assaji tenupasaṅkami,
Then the wanderer Sāriputta approached the venerable Assaji,
upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā Assajinā saddhiṁ sammodi,
and after approaching he exchanged greetings with the venerable Assaji,
sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sārāṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā, ekam-antaṁ aṭṭhāsi.
and after exchanging polite and courteous greetings, he stood on one side.
Ekam-antaṁ ṭhito kho Sāriputto paribbājako
While standing on one side the wanderer Sāriputta
āyasmantaṁ Assajiṁ etad-avoca:
said this to the venerable Assaji:
“Vippasannāni kho te āvuso indriyāni, parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto,
“Your faculties, friend, are very clear, purified is your skin and bright,
209 Word repetition normally signifies emphasis in Pāḷi: piṭṭhito = behind, piṭṭhito piṭṭhito =
closely behind.