Soon afterwards, the Buddha robed up in the morning, took his bowl and robe, and went the prince’s house. The prince was standing outside the gatehouse, waiting for the Buddha. When he saw the Buddha coming, he went out to meet him, bowed down to him, and then returned to the Kokanada stilt house with the Buddha in front. But the Buddha stopped at the bottom stair of that staircase. The prince said, “Sir, please step on the cloth. It will be for my long-term benefit and happiness.” The Buddha remained silent. A second time the prince repeated his request, but the Buddha still remained silent. When the prince made his request for the third time, the Buddha looked at Venerable Ānanda. And Ānanda said to the prince, “Please fold up the cloth. The Buddha doesn’t step on cloth coverings. He has compassion for later generations.”

The prince then had the cloth folded up and had a seat prepared up in the stilt house. The Buddha ascended the house and sat down on the prepared seat together with the Sangha of monks. The prince personally served the various kinds of fine foods to the Sangha of monks headed by the Buddha. When the Buddha had finished his meal and had washed his hands and bowl, the prince sat down to one side. The Buddha instructed, inspired, and gladdened him with a teaching, after which he got up from his seat and left. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: “You shouldn’t step on a cloth covering. If you do, you commit an offense of wrong conduct.”