[III. The Miracles at Uruvelā]
[36: The Ordination of Kassapa and his Followers]
Then this occurred to the Fortunate One: “For a long time this will occur to that foolish fellow: ‘Powerful and majestic is this Great Ascetic, but he is surely not a Worthy One like I am.’ Now what if I were to cause spiritual anxiety to this yogi?” Then the Fortunate One said this to the yogi Uruvelakassapa: “You are certainly not a Worthy One, Kassapa. Nor have you entered the path to Worthiness. This practice of yours is not one whereby you could be a Worthy One, or one who has entered the path to Worthiness.”
Then the yogi Uruvelakassapa, having fallen with his head at the Fortunate One’s feet, said this to the Fortunate One: “May I receive the going-forth, venerable Sir, in the presence of the Fortunate One, may I receive the full ordination.” “But you Kassapa, are the leader, guide, chief, director and instructor of five hundred yogis, you should them give permission and they can do whatever they are thinking.”
Then the yogi Uruvelakassapa approached those yogis, and after approaching he said this to those yogis: “I wish to live the spiritual life under the Great Ascetic, you, dear friends, can do whatever you are thinking.” [They replied:] “For a long time, friend, we have had confidence in the Great Ascetic, if you, friend, will live the spiritual life under the Great Ascetic, all of us will live the spiritual life under the Great Ascetic.”
Then those yogis, after throwing their hair, Lit: mixing their hair, mixing their locks, etc. in the water, which sounds odd, even in Pāḷi. locks, pole and basket and sacred fire equipment into the water, approached the Fortunate One, and after approaching and falling with their heads at the feet of the Fortunate One, they said this to the Fortunate One: “May we receive the going-forth, venerable Sir, in the presence of the Fortunate One, may we receive the full ordination.”
“Come, monks,” said the Fortunate One, “the Dhamma has been well-proclaimed, live the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering.” That was these venerable ones’ full ordination.