[142] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time the bhikkhunī Thullanandā was learned, a fluent speaker, confident, and competent to give a talk on the Dhamma. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, in the hot season, having put on a costly linen cloth (khoma), 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, inspired, roused, and gladdened him with a talk on the Dhamma. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, having been instructed, inspired, roused, and gladdened by the bhikkhunī Thullanandā's talk on the Dhamma, said this to the bhikkhunī Thullanandā: "Say, noble lady, what it is that you need."
"Great king, if you wish to give to me, then give me this linen cloth."
Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, having given the linen cloth 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 indeed could they ask the king for linen cloth?"
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 indeed could the noble lady Thullanandā ask the king for linen cloth?" …
"Is it true, bhikkhus, as they say, that the bhikkhunī Thullanandā asked the king for linen cloth?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked her: "Bhikkhus, how indeed could the bhikkhunī Thullanandā ask the king for linen cloth? This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule:
"'When a bhikkhunī is having a light cloak procured in exchange, one worth at most two and a half kaṃsas may be procured; should she have one procured in exchange beyond that, it entails an offense of expiation with forfeiture (nissaggiya pācittiya).'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.