The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The First Chapter for Recitation
city. For Pāṭaliputta, Ānanda, there will be three dangers: from fire
and from water and from the breaking of an alliance.” 49
Then the Magadhan chief ministers Sunīdha and Vassakāra
approached the Gracious One, and after approaching, they exchanged
greetings with the Gracious One, and after exchanging courteous talk
and greetings, they stood on one side.
While standing on one side the Magadhan chief ministers Sunīdha and
Vassakāra said this to the Gracious One: “May dear Gotama consent to
us (offering him) a meal today, together with the Community of
monks.” The Gracious One consented by maintaining silence.
Then the Magadhan chief ministers Sunīdha and Vassakāra having
understood the Gracious One's consent, approached their own
dwelling, and after approaching, in their own dwellings, having had
excellent foodstuffs made ready, 50 had the time announced to the
Gracious One, (saying): “It is time, dear Gotama, the meal is ready.”
49 The Commentary explains that vā here has the sense of and rather than the
usual or meaning (ca-kārattho vā-saddo).
50 Using the plural foodstuffs to translate the two words in Pāḷi khādanīyaṁ
and bhojanīyaṁ. We might say in English had excellent food and drink
made ready, but that doesn't translate the Pāḷi accurately, and there is
hardly a synonym for food in English that doesn't sound quaint these days.
Ajahn Ṭhānissaro argues that the words mean staple and non-staple food,
but it sounds awkward when used in these contexts.
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