[571] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, the park of Anāthapiṇḍika. Now at that time the bhikkhus of the group of six (chabbaggiyā), while staying with an army for two or three nights,¹ went to a battle, to a muster of the forces, to a massing of the army, and to a review of the battle-lines. And a certain bhikkhu of the group of six, having gone to the battle, was pierced by an arrow (kaṇḍena). People mocked that bhikkhu: "We trust, venerable sir, it was a fine fight? How many marks did you score?" That bhikkhu, being mocked by those people, was abashed. People criticized, complained, and spread it about, saying: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, come to see a battle? It is no gain for us, it is ill-gotten for us, that we, for the sake of our livelihood, on account of wife and children, come to a battle."
Bhikkhus heard those people criticizing, complaining, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they criticized, complained, and spread it about: "How can the bhikkhus of the group of six go to see a battle?" … "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that you go to see a battle?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How can you, foolish men, go to see a battle? This, foolish men, is not conducive to the confidence of those without confidence, nor to the increase of those already confident …" "And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule:
"Should a bhikkhu, while staying with an army for two or three nights, go to a battle, or a muster of the forces, or a massing of the army, or a review of the battle-lines, there is an offense of pācittiya."
¹ Footnote in the Siam Raṭṭha edition: the Burmese edition (M.) reads *dirattatirattaṃ*; likewise below.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.