If we Search recitation in suttacentral we find those recitation that Buddha taught. In India chants are given randomly by gurus so the students use to keep chanting and that is said to let them enter deep Samadhi states. I see Buddha as using that tradition but with a stronger effect. Because the student will chant and eventually understand the Dhamma koan let’s say. Maybe it was the way he easily established new monks in Dhamma mentally before going in higher training. It seems it’s new monks by their obvious lack of understanding what was said.
The Buddha gave this brief passage for recitation, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail.