[456] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, in the park of Anāthapiṇḍika. Now at that time the group-of-six bhikkhus, having made an arrangement together with bhikkhunīs, boarded the same boat. People criticized, complained, and spread it about, saying: "Just as we sport in a single boat together with our wives, even so these ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, having made an arrangement together with bhikkhunīs, sport in a single boat."
Bhikkhus heard those people criticizing, complaining, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they criticized, complained, and spread it about: "How indeed can the group-of-six bhikkhus, having made an arrangement together with bhikkhunīs, board the same boat?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One.
Then the Blessed One questioned the group-of-six bhikkhus: "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that you, having made an arrangement together with bhikkhunīs, boarded the same boat?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How indeed can you, foolish men, having made an arrangement together with bhikkhunīs, board the same boat? This, foolish men, is not for the confidence of those without confidence …
"And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Whatever bhikkhu, having made an arrangement together with a bhikkhunī, should board the same boat, whether going upstream or going downstream, there is an offense of pācittiya."
And thus this training rule came to be laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.