[138] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time the bhikkhunī Thullanandā was learned, an eloquent speaker, confident, and competent to give a talk on the Dhamma. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, in the cold season, having wrapped himself in a costly woolen cloak (kambala), approached the bhikkhunī Thullanandā; having approached, he paid homage to the bhikkhunī Thullanandā and sat down to one side. As King Pasenadi of Kosala sat to one side, the bhikkhunī Thullanandā instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened him with a talk on the Dhamma. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the bhikkhunī Thullanandā's talk on the Dhamma, said this to the bhikkhunī Thullanandā: "Say, noble lady, whatever you have need of."
"If, great king, you wish to give to me, give me this woolen cloak."
Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, having given the woolen cloak to the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, rose from his seat, paid homage to the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, circumambulated her with his right side toward her, and departed.
People criticized, complained, and spread it about, saying: "These bhikkhunīs are of great desires, discontented. How could they ask the king for a woolen cloak?"
The bhikkhunīs heard those people criticizing, complaining, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … criticized, complained, and spread it about, saying: "How could the noble lady Thullanandā ask the king for a woolen cloak?" …
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that the bhikkhunī Thullanandā asked the king for a woolen cloak?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "Bhikkhus, how could the bhikkhunī Thullanandā ask the king for a woolen cloak? This, bhikkhus, does not conduce to the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule:
'When a bhikkhunī is having a heavy cloak (garupāvuraṇa) procured, one worth at most four kaṃsas may be procured; should she have one procured beyond that, it is an offense entailing relinquishment with confession (nissaggiya pācittiya).'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.