[461] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Veḷuvana, at the Squirrels' Feeding Ground (Kalandakanivāpa). Now at that time the bhikkhunī Thullanandā was a frequenter of a certain family, receiving a regular meal there. And by that householder elder bhikkhus had been invited. Then the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, having dressed in the morning, taking her bowl and robe, approached that family; having approached, she said to that householder: "Why, householder, has this abundant food, hard and soft, been prepared?"
"Elders have been invited by me, lady."
"But who, householder, are those elders?"
"The venerable Sāriputta, the venerable Mahāmoggallāna, the venerable Mahākaccāna, the venerable Mahākoṭṭhita, the venerable Mahākappina, the venerable Mahācunda, the venerable Anuruddha, the venerable Revata, the venerable Upāli, the venerable Ānanda, the venerable Rāhula."
"But why, householder, while the great nāgas are at hand, have you invited menials?"
"But who, lady, are these great nāgas?"
"The venerable Devadatta, the venerable Kokālika, the venerable Katamorakatissaka, the venerable son of Khaṇḍadevī, the venerable Samuddadatta."
Now while this talk of the bhikkhunī Thullanandā was left unfinished, the elder bhikkhus entered. "It is true, householder — great nāgas indeed have been invited by you!"
"Just now, lady, you made them out to be menials; now, great nāgas!" — and he threw her out of the house and cut off her regular meal.
Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … were offended, complained, and spread it about: "How indeed can Devadatta knowingly eat almsfood procured through a bhikkhunī's instigation?" … "Is it true, Devadatta, that you knowingly eat almsfood procured through a bhikkhunī's instigation?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "How indeed can you, foolish man, knowingly eat almsfood procured through a bhikkhunī's instigation? This, foolish man, is not for the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, should you recite this training rule: 'Whatever bhikkhu should knowingly eat almsfood procured through a bhikkhunī's instigation, there is an offense entailing confession (pācittiya).'"
And thus was this training rule laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.