[727] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, the monastery of Anāthapiṇḍika. Now at that time in Sāvatthī a meal together with robe-cloth had been prepared for the Saṅgha by a certain guild (pūga), with the thought: "Having fed them, we shall clothe them with robe-cloth." Then the bhikkhus of the group of six approached that guild, and having approached, said this to that guild: "Give, friends, these robe-cloths to these bhikkhus."
"We will not give them, venerable sirs; alms-food together with robe-cloth has been arranged by us for the Saṅgha annually."
"Friends, the Saṅgha has many donors; the Saṅgha has many who provide it with meals. These bhikkhus dwell here depending on you, looking to you. If you will not give to these, then who indeed will give to these? Give, friends, these robe-cloths to these bhikkhus."
Then that guild, being pressed by the group-of-six bhikkhus, gave the robe-cloth as it had been prepared to the group-of-six bhikkhus and served the Saṅgha with the meal. Those bhikkhus who knew that a meal together with robe-cloth had been prepared for the Saṅgha, but did not know that it had been given to the group-of-six bhikkhus, said this: "Present, friends, the robe-cloth to the Saṅgha."
"There is no robe-cloth as prepared, venerable sirs; the masters of the group of six have diverted it to the masters of the group of six."
Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … took offense, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the group-of-six bhikkhus knowingly divert to an individual a gain belonging to the Saṅgha that has already been dedicated to it?" …
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that you knowingly diverted to an individual a gain belonging to the Saṅgha that had already been dedicated to it?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How can you, foolish men, knowingly divert to an individual a gain belonging to the Saṅgha that has already been dedicated to it? This, foolish men, is not for the arousing of confidence in those without confidence, nor for the increase of confidence in those already confident …
"And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Whatever bhikkhu should knowingly divert to an individual a gain belonging to the Saṅgha that has already been dedicated to it, there is an offense entailing expiation (pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.