[486] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Hall with the Peaked Roof. Now at that time a succession of fine meals had been established in Vesālī. Then it occurred to a certain poor workman: "This will be no trifling matter, seeing how these people prepare meals with such care. What if I too were to prepare a meal?" Then that poor workman approached Kirapatika; having approached, he said to Kirapatika: "Master, I wish to prepare a meal for the Saṅgha of bhikkhus with the Buddha at its head. Give me my wages." Now Kirapatika was faithful and confident. So Kirapatika gave that poor workman wages in excess. Then that poor workman approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, that poor workman said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One consent to a meal from me tomorrow, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus." "The Saṅgha of bhikkhus is large, friend; you should know that." "Let the Saṅgha of bhikkhus be large, venerable sir. Many jujube fruits have been prepared by me; they will fill themselves with drink mixed with jujube." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then that poor workman, understanding the Blessed One's consent, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side toward him, and departed.
The bhikkhus heard: "It is said that the Saṅgha of bhikkhus with the Buddha at its head has been invited for tomorrow by a poor workman; they will fill themselves with drink mixed with jujube." So they walked for alms early in the morning and ate. The people heard: "It is said that the Saṅgha of bhikkhus with the Buddha at its head has been invited by a poor workman." So they brought a great quantity of hard food and soft food to that poor workman. Then, when that night had passed, that poor workman had fine hard food and soft food prepared and had the time announced to the Blessed One: "It is time, venerable sir; the meal is ready." Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of that poor workman; having approached, he sat down on the appointed seat together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Then that poor workman served the bhikkhus in the dining hall. The bhikkhus said: "Give only a little, friend; give only a little, friend." "Venerable sirs, do not accept only a little, little, thinking, 'This is a poor workman.' A great quantity of hard food and soft food has been prepared by me. Accept as much as you want, venerable sirs." "It is not for that reason, friend, that we accept only a little, little; but we walked for alms early in the morning and ate. That is why we accept only a little, little." Then that poor workman complained, criticized, and spread it about: "How indeed can the venerable ones, having been invited by me, eat elsewhere? Am I not able to give as much as they want?" The bhikkhus heard that poor workman complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they complained, criticized, and spread it about: "How indeed can bhikkhus, having been invited in one place, eat in another?" …
"Is it true, as it is said, bhikkhus, that bhikkhus, having been invited in one place, would eat in another?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How indeed, bhikkhus, can those foolish men (moghapurisa), having been invited in one place, eat in another? This, bhikkhus, is neither for the confidence of those without confidence, nor for the increase of those who have confidence …. And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada): 'In an out-of-turn meal (paramparabhojana), there is an offense of pācittiya.'"
And thus this training rule was laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.