[527] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Hall of the Peaked Gable (Kūṭāgārasālā). Now at that time solid food (khādanīya) had accrued to the Saṅgha. Then the Venerable Ānanda informed the Blessed One of this matter. "Well then, Ānanda, give the cakes to those who eat leftovers." "Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda replied in assent to the Blessed One, and having had the eaters of leftovers sit down in order, while giving one cake to each, he gave two cakes to a certain female wanderer (paribbājikā), thinking they were one. The female wanderers nearby said to that female wanderer: "That ascetic is your lover." "That ascetic is not my lover; thinking they were one, he gave two cakes."
A second time, the Venerable Ānanda, while giving one cake to each, gave two cakes to that same female wanderer, thinking they were one. The female wanderers nearby said to that female wanderer: "That ascetic is your lover." "That ascetic is not my lover; thinking they were one, he gave two cakes."
A third time, the Venerable Ānanda, while giving one cake to each, gave two cakes to that same female wanderer, thinking they were one. The female wanderers nearby said to that female wanderer: "That ascetic is your lover." "That ascetic is not my lover; thinking they were one, he gave two cakes." "A lover! Not a lover!" — so they jeered.
A certain Ājīvaka also went to the food distribution. A certain bhikkhu, having mixed boiled rice with a great deal of ghee, gave a large lump to that Ājīvaka. Then that Ājīvaka took that lump and departed. Another Ājīvaka said to that Ājīvaka: "Friend, where did you get that lump?" "Friend, it was obtained at the food distribution of that ascetic Gotama, the shaven-headed householder."
Lay followers overheard this conversation between those Ājīvakas. Then those lay followers approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those lay followers said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, these adherents of other sects (titthiyā) desire the discredit of the Buddha, desire the discredit of the Dhamma, desire the discredit of the Saṅgha. It would be good, venerable sir, if the masters would not give to the adherents of other sects with their own hands." Then the Blessed One instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened those lay followers with a talk on the Dhamma. Then those lay followers, having been instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from their seats, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping their right side toward him, and departed.
Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, in this connection, having had the Saṅgha of bhikkhus convened, having given a talk on the Dhamma befitting the case and appropriate to the case, addressed the bhikkhus: "Well then, bhikkhus, I shall lay down a training rule for bhikkhus, founded upon ten reasons: for the excellence of the Saṅgha, for the comfort of the Saṅgha … for the establishment of the true Dhamma, for the support of the Vinaya. And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule:
"Whatever bhikkhu should give with his own hand solid food or soft food (bhojanīya) to a naked ascetic (acelaka), or to a male wanderer (paribbājaka), or to a female wanderer, there is an offense of pācittiya."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.