[149] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan said this to a bhikkhu who was his brother's co-resident pupil (saddhivihārika): "Come, friend, we shall set out on a tour of the countryside."
"I will not go, venerable sir; my robe is worn out."
"Come, friend, I will give you a robe" — and he gave him a robe.
Then that bhikkhu heard: "The Blessed One, it is said, will set out on a tour of the countryside." Then it occurred to that bhikkhu: "Now I shall not set out on a tour of the countryside with the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan; I shall set out on a tour of the countryside with the Blessed One."
Then the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan said this to that bhikkhu: "Come now, friend, we shall set out on a tour of the countryside."
"I will not set out on a tour of the countryside with you, venerable sir; I shall set out on a tour of the countryside with the Blessed One."
"Friend, the robe I gave you was given thinking, 'He will set out on a tour of the countryside with me'" — and, angry and displeased, he snatched the robe back.
Then that bhikkhu reported this matter to the bhikkhus. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they criticized, denounced, and complained: "How can the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan, having himself given a robe to a bhikkhu, angry and displeased, snatch it back?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One.
"Is it true, Upananda, that you, having yourself given a robe to a bhikkhu, angry and displeased, snatched it back?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "How can you, foolish man (moghapurisa), having yourself given a robe to a bhikkhu, angry and displeased, snatch it back? This, foolish man, is not for the confidence of those without confidence, nor for the increase of those already confident …"
"And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: Whatever bhikkhu, having himself given a robe to a bhikkhu, angry and displeased, should snatch it back or have it snatched back, there is an offence entailing expiation with forfeiture (nissaggiya pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.