[74] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Āḷavī, at the Aggāḷava Shrine. Now at that time the group-of-six bhikkhus approached the silk-makers and said this: "Friends, boil many silkworms; give some to us as well, for we too wish to have a rug (santhata) made mixed with silk."
Those silk-makers complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, approach us and say this: 'Friends, boil many silkworms; give some to us as well, for we too wish to have a rug made mixed with silk'? It is a loss for us, it is ill-gotten for us, that we, for the sake of livelihood, on account of wife and children, bring about the destruction of many small living creatures."
Bhikkhus heard those silk-makers complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the group-of-six bhikkhus approach the silk-makers and say this: 'Friends, boil many silkworms; give some to us as well, for we too wish to have a rug made mixed with silk'?"
Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that you approached the silk-makers and said this: 'Friends, boil many silkworms; give some to us as well, for we too wish to have a rug made mixed with silk'?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How can you, foolish men, approach the silk-makers and say this: 'Friends, boil many silkworms; give some to us as well, for we too wish to have a rug made mixed with silk'? This, foolish men, is not for the confidence of those without confidence, nor for the increase of those who have confidence …
"And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: Whatever bhikkhu should have a rug made mixed with silk, it entails relinquishment and confession (nissaggiya pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.