[567] 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 group-of-six bhikkhus, having gone to an army when there was something to be done, stayed with the army for more than three nights. People complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, stay with an army? It is no gain even for us, it is ill-gotten even for us, that we dwell with an army for the sake of livelihood, on account of wives and children."
The bhikkhus heard those people complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the group-of-six bhikkhus stay with an army for more than three nights?" …
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that you stayed with an army for more than three nights?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How can you, foolish men, stay with an army for more than three nights? This, foolish men, is not for the confidence of those without confidence, nor for the increase of those already confident …. And thus, bhikkhus, should you recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Should there be for that bhikkhu some reason to go to an army, that bhikkhu may stay with the army for two or three nights. If he should stay beyond that, there is an offense of pācittiya."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.