[496] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Veḷuvana, at the Kalandakanivāpa (the Squirrels' Feeding Ground). Now at that time the bhikkhus of Āḷavī were having huts built by means of their own begging (saññācikā) — having no sponsoring owner, designated for themselves, and of unlimited size. Those huts did not come to completion. They dwelt abounding in begging, abounding in soliciting by hinting (viññatti): "Give a man; give a laborer; give an ox; give a cart; give an adze; give an axe; give a hatchet; give a hoe; give a chisel; give creepers; give bamboo; give muñja grass; give pabbaja reeds; give grass; give clay."
People, harassed by the begging, harassed by the hinting, on seeing bhikkhus were alarmed and terrified; they fled, went off by another way, turned their faces another way, and even shut their doors. Even on seeing cows they fled, taking them for bhikkhus.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.