[53] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son (Upananda Sakyaputta) was skilled in giving a talk on the Dhamma. Then the son of a certain financier (seṭṭhiputta) approached the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son; having approached, he paid homage to the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son and sat down to one side. As he sat to one side, the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened that financier's son with a talk on the Dhamma.
Then the financier's son, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son with a talk on the Dhamma, said this to the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son: "Venerable sir, please say what you have need of; we are able to give to the master — that is to say, robe-cloth, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick."
"If you wish to give to me, friend, then give one cloth (sāṭaka) from these."
"Venerable sir, for us young men of good family it would look somehow improper to go about with a single cloth. Wait, venerable sir, until I go home; when I have gone home, I shall send either one cloth from these or a finer one."
A second time the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son said this to that financier's son: "If you wish to give to me, friend, then give one cloth from these."
"Venerable sir, for us young men of good family it would look somehow improper to go about with a single cloth. Wait, venerable sir, until I go home; when I have gone home, I shall send either one cloth from these or a finer one."
A third time the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son said this to that financier's son: "If you wish to give to me, friend, then give one cloth from these."
"Venerable sir, for us young men of good family it would look somehow improper to go about with a single cloth. Wait, venerable sir, until I go home; when I have gone home, I shall send either one cloth from these or a finer one."
"What is the point, friend, of your inviting when you do not wish to give — in that, having invited, you do not give?"
Then that financier's son, being pressed by the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son, gave one cloth and departed. People, seeing that financier's son, said this: "Why, master, do you come with only a single cloth?" Then the financier's son told those people the matter. The people were annoyed, complained, and spread it about: "These ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, are of great desires and discontented; it is not easy even to make them an invitation in accordance with the Dhamma (dhammanimantanā). How indeed, when an invitation in accordance with the Dhamma was being made by the financier's son, could they take the cloth?"
Bhikkhus heard those people being annoyed, complaining, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes and contented … they were annoyed, complained, and spread it about: "How indeed could the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son ask the financier's son for a robe?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One.
"Is it true, as they say, Upananda, that you asked the financier's son for a robe?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
"Is he a relative of yours, Upananda, or not a relative?"
"Not a relative, Blessed One."
"Foolish man, one who is not a relative does not know what is fitting or unfitting, what is at hand or not at hand, for one who is not a relative. In such a case, foolish man, will you ask the financier's son, who is not a relative, for a robe? This, foolish man, is not 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): 'Should any bhikkhu ask a householder or a householder's wife who is not a relative for a robe, it is an offense of expiation entailing forfeiture (nissaggiya 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.