[658] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time a certain bhikkhu, traveling through the Kosalan country to Sāvatthī, was passing by the gate of a certain village. A certain woman, having quarreled with her husband, left the village and, seeing that bhikkhu, said this: "Where will the master go, venerable sir?"
"I shall go to Sāvatthī, sister."
"I shall go along with the master."
"Come along, sister."
Then that woman's husband, having left the village, asked the people: "Have you seen a woman of such an appearance?"
"That lady is going along with one gone forth."
Then that man, having pursued them, seized that bhikkhu, beat him, and let him go. Then that bhikkhu sat fuming at the foot of a certain tree.
Then that woman said this to that man: "Master, that bhikkhu did not lead me away; rather, it was I myself who went along with that bhikkhu. That bhikkhu is not the culprit. Go, ask his forgiveness." Then that man asked that bhikkhu's forgiveness.
Then that bhikkhu, having gone to Sāvatthī, told this matter to the bhikkhus. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … criticized, denounced, and complained: "How can a bhikkhu, having made an arrangement with a woman (mātugāma), set out upon the same road?" …
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhu, that you, having made an arrangement with a woman, set out upon the same road?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "How can you, foolish man, having made an arrangement with a woman, set out upon the same road? This, foolish man, is not for the confidence of those without confidence, nor for the increase of confidence of those already confident …
"And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada): Whatever bhikkhu should, having made an arrangement with a woman, set out upon the same road, even so much as from one village to the next, there is an offense of pācittiya."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.