[517] Now at that time bhikkhus were ill. The bhikkhus who inquired after the sick said to the ill bhikkhus: "We hope, friends, that you are bearing up; we hope that you are getting by?"
"Formerly, friends, we would request fine foods for our own benefit and eat them, and because of that we were comfortable. But now, being scrupulous, thinking, 'It has been prohibited by the Blessed One,' we do not request them, and because of that we are not comfortable."
They reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on that ground, on that occasion, having given a talk on the Dhamma, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, I allow an ill bhikkhu, having requested fine foods for his own benefit, to eat them. And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule:
"'Now these are the fine foods, namely: ghee, fresh butter, oil, honey, molasses, fish, meat, milk, and curds. Should any bhikkhu who is not ill, having requested such fine foods for his own benefit, eat them, there is an offense of pācittiya.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.