[101] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu, in the Nigrodhārāma. Now at that time the group-of-six bhikkhus had bhikkhunīs wash wool, and dye it, and comb it. The bhikkhunīs, busy washing, dyeing, and combing wool, neglected recitation (uddesa), interrogation (paripucchā), the higher virtue (adhisīla), the higher mind (adhicitta), and the higher wisdom (adhipaññā).
Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, she stood to one side. As she stood to one side, the Blessed One said this to Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī: "I hope, Gotamī, that the bhikkhunīs are dwelling heedful, ardent (ātāpī), and resolute?"
"Whence, venerable sir, could there be heedfulness for the bhikkhunīs? The masters of the group of six have bhikkhunīs wash wool, and dye it, and comb it. The bhikkhunīs, busy washing, dyeing, and combing wool, neglect recitation, interrogation, the higher virtue, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom."
Then the Blessed One instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī with a talk on the Dhamma. Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping her right side toward him, and departed.
Then the Blessed One, on that occasion and in that connection, had the Saṅgha of bhikkhus convened and questioned the group-of-six bhikkhus: "Is it true, as is said, bhikkhus, that you have bhikkhunīs wash wool, and dye it, and comb it?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
"Are they your relatives, bhikkhus, or not your relatives?"
"They are not our relatives, Blessed One."
"Foolish men, those who are not relatives do not know what is proper or improper, what is pleasing or unpleasing, with regard to those who are not their relatives. How can you, foolish men, have bhikkhunīs who are not your relatives wash wool, and dye it, and comb it? This, foolish men, is not for the confidence of those without confidence, nor for the increase [of confidence] of those already confident …
"And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: 'Should any bhikkhu have wool washed, or dyed, or combed by a bhikkhunī who is not a relative, it entails expiation with forfeiture (nissaggiya pācittiya).'"
[Siam edition editorial note at the marker (1): "From here onward the reading 'bhikkhū' appears everywhere; it should be regarded as superfluous."]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.