[157] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time a certain man, when about to go abroad, said this to his wife: "Measure out thread and give it to such-and-such a weaver; have a robe woven and lay it aside. When I have returned, I shall present master Upananda with the robe."
A certain bhikkhu walking for alms heard that man speaking these words. Then that bhikkhu approached the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan; having approached, he said this to the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan: "You are one of great merit, friend Upananda. In such-and-such a place a certain man, when about to go abroad, said this to his wife: 'Measure out thread and give it to such-and-such a weaver; have a robe woven and lay it aside. When I have returned, I shall present master Upananda with the robe.'" "Yes, friend, that man is my supporter (upaṭṭhāka)." That weaver too was a supporter of the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan.
Then the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan approached that weaver; having approached, he said this to the weaver: "Friend, this robe is being woven specifically for me. Make it long and wide and closely woven; make it well woven, evenly woven, well scraped, and well combed."
"Venerable sir, these people measured out thread and gave it to me, saying: 'Weave a robe with this thread.' It is not possible, venerable sir, to make it long or wide or closely woven; but it is possible, venerable sir, to make it well woven, evenly woven, well scraped, and well combed."
"Come now, friend, make it long and wide and closely woven; there will be no hindrance on account of that thread."
Then that weaver, having set upon the loom the thread just as it had been brought, approached that woman; having approached, he said this to the woman: "Lady, there is need of thread." "Did I not tell you, sir: 'Weave the robe with this thread'?" "It is true, lady, that you told me: 'Weave the robe with this thread'; but master Upananda said this to me: 'Come now, friend, make it long and wide and closely woven; there will be no hindrance on account of that thread.'" Then that woman afterwards gave just as much thread as she had first given.
The Venerable Upananda the Sakyan heard: "That man, it seems, has returned from abroad." Then the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan approached that man's dwelling; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Then that man approached the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan; having approached and paid homage to the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, that man said this to his wife: "Has the robe been woven?" "Yes, sir, the robe has been woven." "Bring it; I shall present master Upananda with the robe." Then that woman brought out the robe, gave it to her husband, and told him what had happened. Then that man, having given that robe to the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan, criticized, complained, and spread it about: "These ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, are of great desires and discontented; it is not easy to present them with a robe. How indeed could master Upananda, without being previously invited by me, go to the weavers and impose stipulations regarding a robe?"
Bhikkhus heard that man criticizing, complaining, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they criticized, complained, and spread it about: "How indeed could the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan, without being previously invited, go to a householder's weavers and impose stipulations regarding a robe?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Is it true, as they say, Upananda, that you, without being previously invited, went to a householder's weavers and imposed stipulations regarding a robe?" "It is true, Blessed One." "Is he a relation of yours, Upananda, or not a relation?" "Not a relation, Blessed One." "One who is not a relation, foolish man, does not know what is proper or improper, what is available or not available, for one who is not a relation. In such a case, foolish man, you, without being previously invited, went to the weavers of a householder who was not a relation and imposed stipulations regarding a robe. This, foolish man, is not for the gaining of faith by those without faith, nor for the increase of those who have faith … And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Should a householder or a householder's wife who is not a relation have a robe woven by weavers specifically for a bhikkhu, and should that bhikkhu in that case, without being previously invited, go to the weavers and impose stipulations regarding the robe, saying: 'Friends, this robe is being woven specifically for me. Make it long and wide and closely woven; make it well woven, evenly woven, well scraped, and well combed; perhaps we too might give the venerable ones some little thing'—and should that bhikkhu, having spoken thus, give some little thing, even so much as almsfood, it entails relinquishment and confession (nissaggiya pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.