[201] 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, having gone to families after the meal, sat down and also lay down on a seat without asking the owners. The people, out of embarrassment before the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, neither sat down nor lay down on the seat. The people criticized, complained, and spread it about, saying: "How can the noble lady (ayyā) Thullanandā, having gone to families after the meal, sit down and even lie down on a seat without asking the owners?"¹
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 can the noble lady Thullanandā, having gone to families after the meal, sit down and even lie down on a seat without asking the owners?" …
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, having gone to families after the meal, sits down and even lies down on a seat without asking the owners?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How, bhikkhus, can the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, having gone to families after the meal, sit down and even lie down on a seat without asking the owners? This, bhikkhus, is not for the arousing of confidence in those who lack confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Should any bhikkhunī, having gone to families after the meal, sit down or lie down on a seat without asking the owners, there is an offense of expiation (pācittiya)."
[Editorial apparatus in the Siam Raṭṭha source:
¹ Everywhere the reading "viññū" appears; but that does not accord with the word-analysis (padabhājanīya) to be stated below.
² The Burmese and European editions read "anovassakaṃ."
³ The Burmese and European editions everywhere show the reading "atikkāmentiyā."]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.