[430] Now at that time Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī was sick. The elder bhikkhus approached Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī; having approached, they said this to Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī: "We hope, Gotamī, that you are bearing up; we hope that you are getting along?"
"Noble sirs, I am not bearing up, I am not getting along. Please, noble sirs, teach the Dhamma."
"Sister, it is not yet¹ allowable, having approached the bhikkhunīs' quarters, to teach the Dhamma to a bhikkhunī" — and being scrupulous, they did not teach.
Then the Blessed One, in the morning, having dressed and taking his bowl and robe, approached Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Seated, the Blessed One said this to Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī: "I hope, Gotamī, that you are bearing up; I hope that you are getting along?"
"Formerly, venerable sir, the elder bhikkhus would come and teach me the Dhamma, and thereby I was at ease; but now, [thinking] 'it has been prohibited by the Blessed One,' being scrupulous, they do not teach, and thereby I am not at ease."
Then the Blessed One, having instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat and departed. Then the Blessed One, in that connection, on that occasion, having given a talk on the Dhamma, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, I allow one, having approached the bhikkhunīs' quarters, to exhort a sick bhikkhunī. And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Whatever bhikkhu, having approached the bhikkhunīs' quarters, should exhort bhikkhunīs, except at a proper occasion, incurs a pācittiya. Herein this is the occasion: a bhikkhunī is sick — this is the occasion herein."
¹ [Variant note in source: in the Burmese edition this word (tāva, "yet") is absent.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.