[646] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time the venerable Udāyi, [thinking,] "It has been prohibited by the Blessed One to sit together with a woman, one man with one woman, in private, on a concealed seat convenient for the purpose," sat down in private, one man with one woman, with that same young girl, conversing on suitable topics at a suitable time, speaking dhamma at a suitable time.
A second time Visākhā Migāramātā, having been invited, went to that family. Visākhā Migāramātā saw the venerable Udāyi sitting in private, one man with one woman, with that same young girl; and having seen him, she said this to the venerable Udāyi: "Venerable sir, this is improper and unbecoming, that the master should sit in private, one man with one woman, together with a woman. Even though, venerable sir, the master has no desire for that act, still people without confidence are hard to convince." But even when spoken to thus by Visākhā Migāramātā, the venerable Udāyi paid no heed.
Then Visākhā Migāramātā, having departed, informed the bhikkhus of this matter. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they criticized, complained, and spread it about: "How can the venerable Udāyi sit in private, one man with one woman, together with a woman?" Then those bhikkhus informed the Blessed One of this matter. … "Is it true, as they say, Udāyi, that you sat in private, one man with one woman, together with a woman?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: … "How can you, foolish man, sit in private, one man with one woman, together with a woman? This, foolish man, is not for the arousing of confidence in those without confidence …
"And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"In case a seat is not concealed and is not convenient for the purpose, but is convenient enough for addressing a woman with lewd words: should any bhikkhu sit down on such a seat in private, one man with one woman, together with a woman, and a female lay follower whose word is trustworthy (saddheyyavacasā upāsikā), having seen him, should speak concerning one of two matters — either the saṅghādisesa or the pācittiya — then the bhikkhu, acknowledging the sitting, is to be dealt with according to one of the two matters, either the saṅghādisesa or the pācittiya; or that bhikkhu is to be dealt with according to whatever that female lay follower whose word is trustworthy should say. This dhamma too is indefinite (aniyata)."
[Note: at "eko/ekaṃ" the Siam Raṭṭha edition records the variant reading "eko" in the Yojana and Burmese editions.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.