[566] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove (Veḷuvana), the squirrels' feeding ground (Kalandakanivāpa). Now at that time the Mettiya-Bhummajaka bhikkhus (bhikkhu), descending from Mount Gijjhakūṭa, saw a he-goat coupling with a she-goat. Having seen this, they said: "Come now, friends, let us name this he-goat 'Dabba the Mallaputta,' and let us name this she-goat 'the bhikkhunī Mettiyā.' Then we shall declare: 'Formerly, friends, we spoke of Dabba the Mallaputta from hearsay; but now he has been seen by us ourselves misconducting himself with the bhikkhunī Mettiyā.'" They named that he-goat "Dabba the Mallaputta" and they named that she-goat "the bhikkhunī Mettiyā." They announced to the bhikkhus: "Formerly, friends, we spoke of Dabba the Mallaputta from hearsay; but now he has been seen by us ourselves misconducting himself with the bhikkhunī Mettiyā." The bhikkhus said: "Do not speak thus, friends; the Venerable Dabba the Mallaputta would not act in such a way."
Then those bhikkhus informed the Blessed One of this matter. Then the Blessed One, on that occasion, in that connection, having had the Saṅgha of bhikkhus convened, questioned the Venerable Dabba the Mallaputta: "Do you recall, Dabba, having done such a thing as these bhikkhus say?" "Venerable sir, the Blessed One knows me as I am." A second time the Blessed One … A third time the Blessed One said this to the Venerable Dabba the Mallaputta: "Do you recall, Dabba, having done such a thing as these bhikkhus say?" "Venerable sir, the Blessed One knows me as I am." "Dabba, the Dabbas do not clear themselves in this way. If it was done by you, say 'It was done'; if it was not done by you, say 'It was not done.'" "Venerable sir, since I was born I am not aware of having engaged in sexual intercourse even in a dream, still less while awake."
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Well then, bhikkhus, examine these bhikkhus." Having said this, the Blessed One rose from his seat and entered the dwelling. Then those bhikkhus examined the Mettiya-Bhummajaka bhikkhus. Being examined by those bhikkhus, they informed them of this matter. "What then, friends — do you charge the Venerable Dabba the Mallaputta with an offense entailing defeat (pārājika), taking up some mere point as a pretext (lesa) of a legal issue (adhikaraṇa) belonging to a different category (aññabhāgiya)?" "It is so, friends." Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … criticized, complained, and spread it about: "How can the Mettiya-Bhummajaka bhikkhus charge the Venerable Dabba the Mallaputta with an offense entailing defeat, taking up some mere point as a pretext of a legal issue belonging to a different category?"
Then those bhikkhus informed the Blessed One of this matter. … "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that you charged Dabba the Mallaputta with an offense entailing defeat, taking up some mere point as a pretext of a legal issue belonging to a different category?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How can you, foolish men, charge Dabba the Mallaputta with an offense entailing defeat, taking up some mere point as a pretext of a legal issue belonging to a different category? This, foolish men, is not for the confidence of those without confidence …" "And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: Should any bhikkhu, malicious, angry, and displeased, charge a bhikkhu with an offense entailing defeat, taking up some mere point as a pretext of a legal issue belonging to a different category, thinking, 'Perhaps thus I may cause him to fall away from this holy life,' then afterwards, whether he is being questioned or is not being questioned, if that legal issue is indeed one belonging to a different category, and some mere point was taken up as a pretext, and the bhikkhu acknowledges his malice — this is an offense entailing initial and subsequent meetings of the Saṅgha (saṅghādisesa)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.