[547] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Veḷuvana, the squirrels' feeding ground. Now at that time a family that supported the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan invited the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan to a meal; they invited other bhikkhus to the meal as well. Now at that time the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan was paying visits to families before the meal. Then those bhikkhus said to those people, "Friends, give the meal." "Wait, venerable sirs, until the master Upananda comes."
A second time those bhikkhus said to those people, "Friends, give the meal." "Wait, venerable sirs, until the master Upananda comes."
A third time those bhikkhus said to those people, "Friends, give the meal before the time passes." "Venerable sirs, it was for the sake of the master Upananda that we prepared this meal; wait, venerable sirs, until the master Upananda comes."
Then the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan, having paid visits to families before the meal, came back during the day. The bhikkhus did not eat as much as they had wished. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they criticized, complained, and spread it about: "How indeed can the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan, being invited and provided with a meal, engage in visiting families before the meal?" …
"Is it true, as they say, Upananda, that you, being invited and provided with a meal, engage in visiting families before the meal?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "How indeed can you, foolish man, being invited and provided with a meal, engage in visiting families before the meal? 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:
"Should any bhikkhu, being invited and provided with a meal, engage in visiting families before the meal, 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English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.