[342] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan had made a quarrel with the group-of-six bhikkhus. He, having committed the offence (āpatti) of intentional emission of semen (sañcetanikā sukkavisaṭṭhi),¹ asked the Saṅgha for probation (parivāsa) for that offence. The Saṅgha granted him probation for that offence. Now at that time in Sāvatthī there was a meal for the Saṅgha given by a certain guild. He, while undergoing probation, sat in the refectory at the end of the seats. The group-of-six bhikkhus said to those lay followers: "Friends, this Venerable Upananda the Sakyan, the frequenter of families whom you esteem, with the very hand with which he eats what is given in faith (saddhādeyya), made an effort with that same hand and emitted impurity. Having committed the offence of intentional emission of semen, he asked the Saṅgha for probation for that offence; the Saṅgha granted him probation for that offence; and while undergoing probation he is seated at the end of the seats."
Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … criticized, denounced, and spread it about, saying: "How can the group-of-six bhikkhus inform one not fully ordained (anupasampanna) of a bhikkhu's grave offence (duṭṭhulla āpatti)?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. … "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that you inform one not fully ordained of a bhikkhu's grave offence?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How can you, foolish men (moghapurisā), inform one not fully ordained of a bhikkhu's grave offence? This, foolish men, is not for the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Whatever bhikkhu should inform one not fully ordained of a bhikkhu's grave offence, except with the authorization (sammati) of the bhikkhus, there is an offence of pācittiya."
¹ Variant (Yu.): sukkavisaṭṭhi-āpattiṃ.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.