[619] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, the monastery of Anāthapiṇḍika. Now at that time several bhikkhus and wanderers (paribbājakā) were traveling on the highway from Sāketa to Sāvatthī. Along the way, robbers came out and robbed them. The king's men, going out from Sāvatthī, caught those robbers together with the goods and sent a messenger to the bhikkhus, saying, "Let the venerable ones come; having recognized each his own robe, let him take it." The bhikkhus did not recognize their robes. People criticized, disparaged, and complained, saying, "How indeed can the venerable ones not recognize each his own robe?" The bhikkhus heard those people criticizing, disparaging, and complaining. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on that ground, on that occasion, having had the Saṅgha of bhikkhus assembled, having given a talk on the Dhamma fitting to that matter and appropriate to that matter, addressed the bhikkhus: "Well then, bhikkhus, I shall lay down a training rule (sikkhāpada) for the bhikkhus in dependence upon ten reasons: for the excellence of the Saṅgha, for the comfort of the Saṅgha … for the stability of the true Dhamma, and for the support of the Vinaya. And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule:
'When a bhikkhu receives a new robe, one of the three means of discoloration (dubbaṇṇakaraṇa) must be applied: blue-green, or mud, or black-brown. If a bhikkhu, without applying one of the three means of discoloration, should use a new robe, there is an offense of pācittiya.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.