[161] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time a certain chief minister, who was about to go away to reside abroad, sent a messenger into the presence of the bhikkhus, saying: "Let the venerable ones come; I shall give the rains-residence cloth (vassāvāsika)." The bhikkhus, being scrupulous, thinking, "The Blessed One has allowed rains-residence cloth for those who have completed the rains," did not come. Then that chief minister complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the venerable ones not come when a messenger has been sent by me? For I am going with the army; it is hard to know whether one will live, hard to know whether one will die." The bhikkhus heard that chief minister complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on account of that occasion, in that connection, having given a talk on the Dhamma, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, I allow an urgent robe-cloth (accekacīvara) to be accepted and stored."
Now at that time bhikkhus, [thinking,] "It has been allowed by the Blessed One to accept an urgent robe-cloth and store it," accepted urgent robe-cloths and let the robe-season (cīvarakālasamaya) pass. Those robes remained tied up in bundles on the bamboo robe-pole. The venerable Ānanda, while wandering on a tour of the lodgings, saw those robes remaining tied up in bundles on the bamboo robe-pole; having seen them, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Friends, whose are these robes that remain tied up in bundles on the bamboo robe-pole?" "Friends, they are our urgent robe-cloths." "But, friends, for how long have these robes been stored?" Then those bhikkhus informed the venerable Ānanda according to how long they had been stored. The venerable Ānanda complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can bhikkhus, having accepted urgent robe-cloths, let the robe-season pass?" Then the venerable Ānanda reported this matter to the Blessed One.
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that bhikkhus, having accepted urgent robe-cloth, let the robe-season pass?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How, bhikkhus, can those foolish men, having accepted urgent robe-cloth, let the robe-season pass? This, bhikkhus, is neither 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 an urgent robe-cloth arise for a bhikkhu when ten days remain before the full moon of Kattika that completes the three months, it may be accepted by a bhikkhu who perceives it as urgent; having accepted it, it may be stored until the robe-season. If he should store it beyond that, it entails relinquishment with expiation (nissaggiya pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.