[556] Now at that time the group-of-six bhikkhus were improperly dressed and improperly robed, and not endowed with proper deportment. They were spoken to by Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Why, venerable sirs, are you improperly dressed, improperly robed, and not endowed with proper deportment? Surely one gone forth ought to be properly dressed, properly robed, and endowed with proper deportment?" The group-of-six bhikkhus bore a grudge against Mahānāma the Sakyan. Then it occurred to the group-of-six bhikkhus: "By what means might we put Mahānāma the Sakyan to shame?" Then it occurred to the group-of-six bhikkhus: "Friends, the Saṅgha has been given an invitation (pavāraṇā) by Mahānāma the Sakyan in respect of medicine. Come, friends, let us ask Mahānāma the Sakyan for ghee." Then the group-of-six bhikkhus approached Mahānāma the Sakyan, and having approached, they said this to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Friend, we have need of a doṇa-measure of ghee."
"Venerable sirs, wait for this day; the people have gone to the cattle-pen to bring ghee; you shall receive it in due time."
A second time … A third time the group-of-six bhikkhus said this to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Friend, we have need of a doṇa-measure of ghee."
"Venerable sirs, wait for this day; the people have gone to the cattle-pen to bring ghee; you shall receive it in due time."
"What, friend, is the use of an invitation given by you who do not wish to give — in that, having given the invitation, you do not give?"
Then Mahānāma the Sakyan complained, criticized, and spread it about: "How indeed can the venerable ones, when told, 'Venerable sirs, wait for this day,' not wait?" Bhikkhus heard Mahānāma the Sakyan complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … complained, criticized, and spread it about: "How indeed can the group-of-six bhikkhus, when told by Mahānāma the Sakyan, 'Venerable sirs, wait for this day,' not wait?" …
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that you, when told by Mahānāma the Sakyan, 'Venerable sirs, wait for this day,' did not wait?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How indeed can you, foolish men, when told by Mahānāma the Sakyan, 'Venerable sirs, wait for this day,' not wait? This, foolish men, is not for the confidence of those without confidence, nor for the increase [of confidence] of those already confident …
"And thus, bhikkhus, should you recite this training rule: 'An invitation in respect of requisites for four months may be accepted by a bhikkhu who is not ill, except for a renewed invitation, except for a permanent invitation. Should he accept beyond that, there is an offence of pācittiya.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.