[732] Now at that time King Pasenadi of Kosala was on the upper terrace of his fine palace. King Pasenadi of Kosala saw that lay follower (upāsaka) going along the street with a parasol in his hand. Seeing him, he had him summoned and said this: "It is said, lay follower, that you are of great learning, one to whom the transmitted texts have come down (āgatāgama). It would be good, lay follower, if you would teach the Dhamma to the women of our inner quarters (itthāgāra)."
"Sire, whatever I know, I know through the noble ones; it is the noble ones themselves who should teach the Dhamma to Your Majesty's women of the inner quarters."
Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, [saying,] "What the lay follower says is true," approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, King Pasenadi of Kosala said this to the Blessed One: "It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would appoint one bhikkhu who will teach the Dhamma to the women of our inner quarters."
Then the Blessed One instructed, inspired, roused, and gladdened King Pasenadi of Kosala with a talk on the Dhamma. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, having been instructed, inspired, roused, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side toward him, and departed.
Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Well then, Ānanda, teach the Dhamma to the women of the king's inner quarters." "Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and, entering from time to time, he taught the Dhamma to the women of the king's inner quarters.
Then in the morning the Venerable Ānanda, having dressed and taking his bowl and robe, approached the residence of King Pasenadi of Kosala. Now at that time King Pasenadi of Kosala was lying in bed together with Queen Mallikā. Queen Mallikā saw the Venerable Ānanda coming from afar; seeing him, she rose up hastily, and her garment of smooth yellow cloth slipped off. Then the Venerable Ānanda turned back from that very spot, went to the monastery, and reported this matter to the bhikkhus.
Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they criticized, denounced, and spread it about, saying: "How can the Venerable Ānanda enter the king's inner quarters without being announced beforehand?" …
"Is it true, as they say, Ānanda, that you entered the king's inner quarters without being announced beforehand?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "How can you, Ānanda, enter the king's inner quarters without being announced beforehand? This, Ānanda, is not for the arousing of confidence in those without confidence, nor for the increase [of confidence] in those who have confidence …" Having rebuked him and given a talk on the Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus:
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.