[227] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time a certain bhikkhunī (bhikkhunī) had made a robe (cīvara) badly, had sewn it badly, out of a costly robe-cloth. The bhikkhunī Thullanandā said this to that bhikkhunī: "This robe-cloth of yours is fine, lady, but the robe has been badly made, badly sewn."
"If I unstitch it, lady, will you sew it?"
"Yes, lady, I will sew it."
Then that bhikkhunī, having unstitched that robe, gave it to the bhikkhunī Thullanandā. The bhikkhunī Thullanandā, saying "I will sew it, I will sew it," neither sewed it nor made an effort to have it sewn. Then that bhikkhunī reported this matter to the bhikkhunīs. Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … became annoyed, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the lady Thullanandā, having had a bhikkhunī's robe unstitched, neither sew it nor make an effort to have it sewn?" …
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, having had a bhikkhunī's robe unstitched, neither sews it nor makes an effort to have it sewn?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How, bhikkhus, can the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, having had a bhikkhunī's robe unstitched, neither sew it nor make an effort to have it sewn? This, bhikkhus, is not for the arousing of confidence in those without confidence …
"And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule:
"Whatever bhikkhunī, having unstitched, or having caused to be unstitched, a bhikkhunī's robe, should afterwards, there being no obstacle, neither sew it nor make an effort to have it sewn, except for four or five days, incurs a pācittiya."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.