[8] Then the Venerable Sāriputta rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms in reverence toward the Blessed One, and said to the Blessed One: "It is time, Blessed One; it is time, Sublime One, for the Blessed One to lay down the training rules (sikkhāpada) for the disciples and to recite the Pātimokkha, so that this spiritual life (brahmacariya) may endure and stand for a long time."
"Wait, Sāriputta! Wait, Sāriputta! The Tathāgata alone will know the proper time for that. Sāriputta, the Teacher does not lay down training rules for the disciples nor recite the Pātimokkha so long as certain conditions that are grounds for the taints (āsava) have not appeared here in the Saṅgha. But when, Sāriputta, certain conditions that are grounds for the taints appear here in the Saṅgha, then the Teacher lays down training rules for the disciples and recites the Pātimokkha, for the warding off of those very conditions that are grounds for the taints.
"Sāriputta, certain conditions that are grounds for the taints do not appear here in the Saṅgha so long as the Saṅgha has not attained greatness by length of standing. But when, Sāriputta, the Saṅgha has attained greatness by length of standing, then certain conditions that are grounds for the taints appear here in the Saṅgha; and then the Teacher lays down training rules for the disciples and recites the Pātimokkha, for the warding off of those very conditions that are grounds for the taints.
"Sāriputta, certain conditions that are grounds for the taints do not appear here in the Saṅgha so long as the Saṅgha has not attained greatness by expansion. But when, Sāriputta, the Saṅgha has attained greatness by expansion, then certain conditions that are grounds for the taints appear here in the Saṅgha; and then the Teacher lays down training rules for the disciples and recites the Pātimokkha, for the warding off of those very conditions that are grounds for the taints.
"Sāriputta, certain conditions that are grounds for the taints do not appear here in the Saṅgha so long as the Saṅgha has not attained greatness by excellence of gains. But when, Sāriputta, the Saṅgha has attained greatness by excellence of gains, then certain conditions that are grounds for the taints appear here in the Saṅgha; and then the Teacher lays down training rules for the disciples and recites the Pātimokkha, for the warding off of those very conditions that are grounds for the taints.
"For, Sāriputta, the Saṅgha of bhikkhus is free from blemish, free from danger, rid of stain, pure, bright, and established in the essence. For, Sāriputta, of these five hundred bhikkhus, even the least of them is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to the states of deprivation, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.