[294] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time the Venerable Anuruddha, traveling to Sāvatthī through the Kosalan country, arrived in the evening at a certain village. Now at that time in that village a rest-house had been made ready by a certain woman. Then the Venerable Anuruddha approached that woman, and having approached, said this to her: "If it is not burdensome to you, sister, I would stay one night in the rest-house." "You may stay, venerable sir."
Other travelers also approached that woman, and having approached, said this to her: "If it is not burdensome to you, lady, we would stay one night in the rest-house." "This master, an ascetic, arrived first; if he permits it, you may stay."
Then those travelers approached the Venerable Anuruddha, and having approached, said this to the Venerable Anuruddha: "If it is not burdensome to you, venerable sir, we would stay one night in the rest-house." "You may stay, friends."
Now that woman, at the very sight of the Venerable Anuruddha, had become enamored of him. Then that woman approached the Venerable Anuruddha, and having approached, said this to the Venerable Anuruddha: "Venerable sir, the master, crowded together with these people, will not dwell at ease. It would be good, venerable sir, if I were to prepare a couch inside for the master." The Venerable Anuruddha consented by remaining silent.
Then that woman, having herself prepared a couch inside for the Venerable Anuruddha, adorned and arrayed, fragrant with perfumes, approached the Venerable Anuruddha, and having approached, said this to the Venerable Anuruddha: "Venerable sir, the master is handsome, comely, pleasing to behold; and I too am handsome, comely, pleasing to behold. It would be good, venerable sir, if I were to become the master's wife." When this was said, the Venerable Anuruddha remained silent. A second time … A third time that woman said this to the Venerable Anuruddha: "Venerable sir, the master is handsome, comely, pleasing to behold; and I too am handsome, comely, pleasing to behold. It would be good, venerable sir, if the master would accept both me and all my wealth." A third time the Venerable Anuruddha remained silent.
Then that woman, laying aside her garment, walked up and down before the Venerable Anuruddha, stood, sat down, and lay down. But the Venerable Anuruddha, keeping his sense faculties restrained, neither looked at that woman nor spoke to her. Then that woman [exclaimed]: "It is wonderful indeed, sirs! It is marvelous indeed, sirs! Many men send for me with even a hundred, even a thousand; but this ascetic, though entreated by me myself, does not wish to accept me and all my wealth!" And putting on her garment, prostrating with her head at the feet of the Venerable Anuruddha, she said this to the Venerable Anuruddha: "A transgression overcame me, venerable sir, in that, so foolish, so muddled, so unskillful, I acted in such a way. Venerable sir, may the master accept my transgression as a transgression, for the sake of restraint in the future." "Truly, sister, a transgression overcame you, in that, so foolish, so muddled, so unskillful, you acted thus. But since you, sister, having seen the transgression as a transgression, make amends in accordance with the Dhamma, we accept it from you. For this is growth in the discipline of the noble ones, sister: when one, having seen a transgression as a transgression, makes amends in accordance with the Dhamma and undertakes restraint for the future."
Then that woman, when that night had passed, having with her own hand served and satisfied the Venerable Anuruddha with choice hard and soft foods, when the Venerable Anuruddha had eaten and withdrawn his hand from the bowl, sat down to one side. As that woman sat to one side, the Venerable Anuruddha instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened her with a talk on the Dhamma. Then that woman, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the Venerable Anuruddha with a talk on the Dhamma, said this to the Venerable Anuruddha: "Excellent, venerable sir! Excellent, venerable sir! Just as, venerable sir, one might set upright what had been overturned, or uncover what had been concealed, or point out the way to one who was lost, or hold up an oil lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes might see forms — even so has the Dhamma been made clear in many ways by the master Anuruddha. I, venerable sir, go for refuge to that Blessed One, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the master remember me as a lay follower (upāsikā) who from this day forth has gone for refuge for as long as life lasts."
Then the Venerable Anuruddha, having gone to Sāvatthī, reported this matter to the bhikkhus. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they took offense, deplored it, and spread it about: "How can the Venerable Anuruddha lie down together with a woman (mātugāma)?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. … "Is it true, as they say, Anuruddha, that you lay down together with a woman?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "How can you, Anuruddha, lie down together with a woman? This, Anuruddha, is not for the confidence of those without confidence …" "And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: Whatever bhikkhu should lie down together with a woman, there is an offense of pācittiya."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.