[397] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Kosambī, in Ghosita's Park (Ghositārāma). Now at that time a chief minister who was the supporter of the Venerable Channa was having a dwelling (vihāra) built for the Venerable Channa. Then the Venerable Channa had the dwelling, though already finished, roofed again and again and plastered again and again; the dwelling, having become too heavy, collapsed. Then the Venerable Channa, while gathering grass and sticks, damaged the barley field of a certain brahmin. Then that brahmin complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the venerable ones damage our barley field?"
Bhikkhus heard that brahmin complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the Venerable Channa have a dwelling, though already finished, roofed again and again and plastered again and again, so that the dwelling, having become too heavy, collapses?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. …
"Is it true, as they say, Channa, that you had a dwelling, though already finished, roofed again and again and plastered again and again, and that the dwelling, having become too heavy, collapsed?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "How can you, foolish man (moghapurisa), have a dwelling, though already finished, roofed again and again and plastered again and again, so that the dwelling, having become too heavy, collapses? This, foolish man, is not for the confidence of those without confidence …
"And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"When a bhikkhu is having a large dwelling built, then—as far as the surround of the door, for the purpose of fixing the door-bolt and for finishing the window openings—he may, standing where there are no crops, direct the laying on of two or three courses of roofing. If he should direct more than that, even standing where there are no crops, it is an offence of pācittiya."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.