[617] Now at that time a certain bhikkhu, having completed the rains residence among the Kāsis, while travelling to Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One, arrived at Kiṭāgiri. Then that bhikkhu, in the morning, having dressed and taken his bowl and robe, entered Kiṭāgiri for alms — pleasing in his manner of going forward and returning, of looking ahead and looking aside, of bending and stretching his limbs, with eyes downcast, accomplished in the postures (iriyāpatha).
People, seeing that bhikkhu, spoke thus: "Who is this, like a feeble weakling, like a dullard, like a scowler upon scowlers? Who would give even a lump of alms-food to this one when he comes up? But our masters, the followers of Assaji and Punabbasu, are gentle, friendly, pleasant to converse with, greeting one first with a smile, saying 'Come! Welcome!', not scowling, open of countenance, the first to speak — it is to them, surely, that alms should be given."
A certain lay follower (upāsaka) saw that bhikkhu walking for alms in Kiṭāgiri. Having seen him, he approached that bhikkhu; having approached and paid homage to that bhikkhu, he said this: "Venerable sir, have any alms been received?"
"No alms have been received, friend."
"Come, venerable sir, we shall go to my house."
Then that lay follower, having led that bhikkhu to his house and given him a meal, said this: "Where, venerable sir, will the master go?"
"I shall go to Sāvatthī, friend, to see the Blessed One."
"Then, venerable sir, pay homage in my name with your head at the Blessed One's feet, and say this: 'Venerable sir, the residence at Kiṭāgiri has become corrupted. The followers of Assaji and Punabbasu, the resident bhikkhus at Kiṭāgiri, are shameless, evil bhikkhus. They engage in bad conduct (anācāra) of such a kind as this: they plant flowering shrubs and have them planted; they water them and have them watered; they pick the flowers and have them picked; they string them and have them strung; they make garlands with stalks on one side and have them made; they make garlands with stalks on both sides and have them made … they engage in various kinds of bad conduct. Those people, venerable sir, who formerly had faith and were confident are now without faith and without confidence; those channels of giving that formerly existed for the Saṅgha are now cut off; well-behaved bhikkhus desert the place, and evil bhikkhus dwell there. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would send bhikkhus to Kiṭāgiri, so that this residence at Kiṭāgiri might be established once more.'"
"Very well, friend," that bhikkhu replied in assent to that lay follower, and he set out for Sāvatthī. Travelling in stages, he approached Sāvatthī, Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery, and the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.