Then the Blessed One, having stayed at Bārāṇasī as long as he liked, set out on a wandering tour toward Andhakavinda, along with a large Saṅgha of monks — 1,250 monks.

And at that time the people in the countryside, having loaded up a lot of salt, oil, rice, and non-staple foods into carts, (thinking,) “When we get our turn, we’ll make a meal,” followed along right behind the Saṅgha of monks, with the Buddha at its head, as did approximately five hundred of those who live off of scraps.

Then the Blessed One, traveling by stages, arrived at Andhakavinda.

Then a certain brahman, not getting a turn, had the thought, “I’ve been following the Saṅgha of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for upwards of two months (thinking,) ‘When I get my turn, I’ll make a meal.’ I’m alone and my many household aims are falling to waste.

“What if I were to keep watch[1] in the meal hall (during the meal)? Whatever isn’t in the meal hall, I’ll prepare.”

Then the brahman, keeping watch in the meal hall, didn’t see two things: conjey and honey-lumps.

Then the brahman went to Ven. Ānanda and, on arrival, said to him, “Just now, Venerable Ānanda, not getting my turn, the thought occurred to me, ‘I’ve been following the Saṅgha of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for upwards of two months (thinking,) “When I get my turn, I’ll make a meal.” I’m alone and my many household aims are falling to waste. What if I were to keep watch in the meal hall? Whatever isn’t in the meal hall, I’ll prepare.’ Venerable Ānanda, as I was keeping watch in the meal hall, I didn’t see two things: conjey and honey-lumps. If I were to prepare conjey and honey-lumps, would Master Gotama accept them from me?”

“In that case, brahman, I will ask the Blessed One.”

Then Ven. Ānanda reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“In that case, Ānanda, let him prepare them.”

[Ven. Ānanda to the brahman:] “In this case, brahman, prepare them.”

Then, as the night was ending, the brahman, having prepared a great quantity of conjey and honey-lumps, presented them to the Blessed One, (saying,) “May Master Gotama accept my conjey and honey-lumps.”

“In that case, brahman, give them to the monks.”

Anxious, the monks didn’t accept them.

“Accept them, monks, and consume them.”

Then the brahman, with his own hands, served and satisfied the Saṅgha of monks with the Buddha at its head with a great deal of conjey and honey-lumps. When the Blessed One had washed his hand and withdrawn it from the bowl, he sat to one side.

As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to him, “Brahman, there are these ten benefits of conjey. Which ten? One who gives conjey gives life, gives beauty, gives ease, gives strength, gives quick-wittedness. When conjey is drunk, hunger is kept at bay, thirst is dispelled, it makes the wind flow well, it cleans the intestines, it makes what remains undigested be digested. These, brahman, are the ten benefits of conjey.

“One who gives conjey

respectfully, on occasions,

to those restrained ones,

consumers of the gifts of others,

bestows on them ten things:

Life and beauty, ease and strength;

intelligence arises in them as well;

hunger, thirst, and wind are driven out;

cleansed are his intestines, digested his food.

This medicine is praised by the Well-gone One.

So conjey should be given regularly

by one aiming at human happiness,

or desiring heavenly pleasures,

or wanting human prosperity.

Then the Blessed One, having expressed his appreciation to the brahman with these verses, got up from his seat and left.

Then the Blessed One, having given a Dhamma talk with regard to this cause, to this incident, addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow conjey and honey-lumps.”