[602] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Veḷuvana, at the Kalandakanivāpa. Now at that time Devadatta was striving for schism in the Saṅgha (saṅghabheda), for a breach of the wheel (cakkabheda). The bhikkhus said thus: "Devadatta speaks what is not Dhamma; Devadatta speaks what is not Vinaya. How indeed can Devadatta strive for schism in the Saṅgha, for a breach of the wheel?" When this was said, Kokālika, Kaṭamorakatissaka, the son of Khaṇḍadevī, and Samuddadatta said this to those bhikkhus: "Let the venerable ones not speak thus. Devadatta speaks in accordance with the Dhamma; Devadatta speaks in accordance with the Vinaya. Devadatta takes up our desire and preference and gives voice to them; he knows us and speaks for us, and this is agreeable to us."
Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they were annoyed, complained, and spread it about: "How indeed can bhikkhus become followers of Devadatta, who is striving for schism in the Saṅgha, speaking for his faction?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, in this connection, having had the Saṅgha of bhikkhus convened, questioned the bhikkhus: "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that bhikkhus have become followers of Devadatta, who is striving for schism in the Saṅgha, speaking for his faction?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "It is unbecoming, bhikkhus, of those foolish men … How indeed, bhikkhus, can those foolish men become followers of Devadatta, who is striving for schism in the Saṅgha, speaking for his faction? This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule:
"Should that same bhikkhu have bhikkhus who are his followers, speaking for his faction—one, or two, or three—and should they say thus: 'Let the venerable ones not say anything against this bhikkhu. This bhikkhu speaks in accordance with the Dhamma; this bhikkhu speaks in accordance with the Vinaya. This bhikkhu takes up our desire and preference and gives voice to them; he knows us and speaks for us, and this is agreeable to us'—those bhikkhus should be spoken to thus by the bhikkhus: 'Let the venerable ones not speak thus. This bhikkhu does not speak in accordance with the Dhamma; this bhikkhu does not speak in accordance with the Vinaya. Let not schism in the Saṅgha find favor with the venerable ones either. Let the venerable ones be reconciled with the Saṅgha; for the Saṅgha, harmonious, on friendly terms, without dispute, with a single recitation, dwells at ease.' And should those bhikkhus, being spoken to thus by the bhikkhus, persist just the same, those bhikkhus should be admonished by the bhikkhus up to the third time for the relinquishing of that. If, being admonished up to the third time, they relinquish it, that is good. If they do not relinquish it, it is a saṅghādisesa."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.