[299] Now at that time laywomen (upāsikā), having seen bhikkhus, said this: "Come, venerable sirs, teach the Dhamma."
"Sister, it is not allowable to teach the Dhamma to womankind (mātugāma)."
"Come, venerable sirs, teach the Dhamma in just five or six sentences; even with this much it is possible to understand the Dhamma."
Saying, "Sister, it is not allowable to teach the Dhamma to womankind," being scrupulous, they did not teach it.
The laywomen complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the venerable ones, being requested by us, not teach the Dhamma?"
Bhikkhus heard those laywomen complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One.
Then the Blessed One, having given a talk on the Dhamma with reference to that occasion, with reference to that incident, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, I allow the Dhamma to be taught to womankind in five or six sentences. And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Whatever bhikkhu should teach the Dhamma to womankind in more than five or six sentences, there is an offense of expiation (pācittiya)."
And thus this training rule was laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.