[612] Now at that time bhikkhus were sick. Bhikkhus who inquired after the sick said this to the sick bhikkhus: "Friends, is it bearable? Is it endurable?"
"Formerly, friends, we bathed at intervals of less than half a month,¹ and thereby we were at ease; but now, being scrupulous, thinking, 'It has been prohibited by the Blessed One,' we do not bathe, and thereby we are not at ease."
They informed the Blessed One of this matter. "Bhikkhus, I allow a sick bhikkhu to bathe at intervals of less than half a month. And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Should any bhikkhu bathe at intervals of less than half a month, except on an occasion, there is an offense entailing expiation (pācittiya). Herein this is the occasion: 'a month and a half remains of the hot season' and the first month of the rains — thus these two and a half months are the hot time, the fever time; and a time of sickness — this is the occasion herein."
And thus was this training rule laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus.
¹ The reading "orenaddhamāsaṃ" is also found. [Editorial footnote in the Siam Raṭṭha text.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.