[114] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time the bhikkhunī Thullanandā was ill. Then a certain lay follower (upāsaka) approached the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, and having approached, said this to the bhikkhunī Thullanandā: "I hope, lady, that you are bearing up; I hope that you are getting along?"
"Friend, I am not bearing up; I am not getting along."
"Lady, I will deposit a kahāpaṇa at the shop of such-and-such a shopkeeper; from there you may have brought whatever you wish."
The bhikkhunī Thullanandā instructed a certain sikkhamānā: "Go, sikkhamānā, bring a kahāpaṇa's worth of oil from the shop of such-and-such a shopkeeper."
Then that sikkhamānā, having brought a kahāpaṇa's worth of oil from that shopkeeper's shop, gave it to the bhikkhunī Thullanandā. The bhikkhunī Thullanandā said this: "Sikkhamānā, I have no need of oil; I have need of ghee."
Then that sikkhamānā approached that shopkeeper, and having approached, said this to that shopkeeper: "It seems, friend, that the lady has no need of oil; she has need of ghee. Here, take your oil and give me ghee."
"Lady, if we take back goods already sold, when will our goods be sold? The oil was taken with the purchase price of oil; bring the purchase price of ghee, and you shall take away ghee."
Then that sikkhamānā stood weeping. The bhikkhunīs said this to that sikkhamānā: "Why, sikkhamānā, are you weeping?" Then that sikkhamānā informed the bhikkhunīs of this matter.
Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … criticized, denounced, and complained: "How can the Lady Thullanandā, having had one thing procured in exchange, have another thing procured in exchange?" …
"Is it true, bhikkhus, as they say, that the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, having had one thing procured in exchange, has another thing procured in exchange?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked her: "Bhikkhus, how can the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, having had one thing procured in exchange, have another thing procured in exchange? This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule:
"Whatever bhikkhunī, having had one thing procured in exchange, should have another thing procured in exchange, this entails relinquishment with confession (nissaggiya pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.