[205] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time several bhikkhunīs, traveling through the Kosalan country to Sāvatthī, arrived in the evening at a certain village, approached a certain brahmin household, and asked for lodging. Then the [1] brahmin woman said this to those bhikkhunīs: "Wait, ladies, until the brahmin comes."
The bhikkhunīs, [saying] "until the brahmin comes," spread out bedding, and some sat down while some lay down.
Then that brahmin, coming home at night, said this to the brahmin woman: "Who are these?" "They are bhikkhunīs, master." "Throw them out — these shaven-headed harlots!" — and he had them thrown out of the house.
Then those bhikkhunīs, having gone to Sāvatthī, reported this matter to the bhikkhunīs. Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … criticized, denounced, and spread it about, saying: "How can bhikkhunīs, having approached families at the wrong time (vikāla), without asking the owners, having spread bedding or [2] had it spread, [3] sit down upon it or lie down upon it?" …
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that bhikkhunīs, having approached families at the wrong time, without asking the owners, having spread bedding or had it spread, sit down upon it and lie down upon it?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How can bhikkhunīs, having approached families at the wrong time, without asking the owners, having spread bedding or had it spread, sit down upon it or lie down upon it? This, bhikkhus, does not conduce to the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
'Whatever bhikkhunī, having approached families at the wrong time, without asking the owners, having spread bedding or had it spread, should sit down upon it or should lie down upon it, incurs an offense of pācittiya.'"
[Edition footnotes: 1. In the M. and Yu. editions the reading "sā" ("that [brahmin woman]") appears. 2–3. In the M. and Yu. editions this pair of readings ("vā … santharāpetvā") is absent; elsewhere also it should be so understood.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.