[531] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son said to a bhikkhu who was his brother's pupil (saddhivihārika): "Come, friend, we shall enter the village for alms." Then, without having anything given to him, he dismissed him, saying: "Go, friend; neither talking nor sitting with you is comfortable for me; talking or sitting alone is comfortable for me." Then that bhikkhu, the hour being already advanced, was not able to walk for alms; nor, on returning [to the refectory], did he arrive in time for the distribution of the meal; he went without food. Then that bhikkhu, having gone to the monastery, told this matter to the bhikkhus.
Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … looked down upon it, criticized it, and spread it about, saying: "How can the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son say to a bhikkhu, 'Come, friend, we shall enter the village for alms,' and then, without having anything given to him, dismiss him?" …
"Is it true, Upananda, that you said to a bhikkhu, 'Come, friend, we shall enter the village for alms,' and then, without having anything given to him, dismissed him?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "How can you, foolish man, say to a bhikkhu, 'Come, friend, we shall enter the village for alms,' and then, without having anything given to him, dismiss him? This, foolish man, is not for the confidence of those without confidence, nor for the increase of those already confident …
"And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Whatever bhikkhu should say to a bhikkhu, 'Come, friend, we shall enter the village or the town for alms,' and then, whether having had [something] given to him or not having had [anything] given to him, should dismiss him, saying, 'Go, friend; neither talking nor sitting with you is comfortable for me; talking or sitting alone is comfortable for me' — making just this the reason and nothing else — there is an offense entailing confession (pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.