[31] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, in the monastery of Anāthapiṇḍika. Now at that time a certain lay follower (upāsaka), having given a storehouse to the bhikkhunī Saṅgha, passed away. He had two sons: one without faith, without confidence; one with faith, with confidence. They divided their father's property. Then the one without faith, without confidence, said to the one with faith, with confidence: "The storehouse is ours; let us divide it." When this was said, the one with faith, with confidence, said to the one without faith, without confidence: "Do not speak thus, sir; it was given by our father to the bhikkhunī Saṅgha."
A second time the one without faith, without confidence, said to the one with faith, with confidence: "The storehouse is ours; let us divide it." Then the one with faith, with confidence, said to the one without faith, without confidence: "Do not speak thus, sir; it was given by our father to the bhikkhunī Saṅgha."
A third time the one without faith, without confidence, said to the one with faith, with confidence: "The storehouse is ours; let us divide it." Then the one with faith, with confidence, thinking, "If it comes to be mine, I too shall give it to the bhikkhunī Saṅgha," said to the one without faith, without confidence: "Let us divide it." Then, as it was being divided by them, that storehouse fell to the one without faith, without confidence.
Then the one without faith, without confidence, approached the bhikkhunīs and said: "Depart, noble ladies; the storehouse is ours." When this was said, the bhikkhunī Thullanandā said to that man: "Do not speak thus, sir; it was given by your father to the bhikkhunī Saṅgha." Disputing "It was given"—"It was not given," they asked the chief ministers of justice. The ministers said: "Noble lady, who knows that it was given to the bhikkhunī Saṅgha?" When this was said, the bhikkhunī Thullanandā said to those ministers: "But has it ever been seen or heard by you, sirs, that when a gift is being given a witness is appointed?" Then those ministers, saying, "The noble lady speaks the truth," made over that storehouse to the bhikkhunī Saṅgha.
Then that man, defeated, complained, criticized, and spread it about: "These shaven-headed harlots are no ascetics! How can they have our storehouse confiscated?" The bhikkhunī Thullanandā reported this matter to the ministers. The ministers had that man fined. Then that man, having been fined, had an Ājīvaka lodging built not far from the bhikkhunīs' dwelling and incited the Ājīvakas, saying: "Revile these bhikkhunīs." The bhikkhunī Thullanandā reported this matter to the ministers. The ministers had that man bound.
People complained, criticized, and spread it about: "First the bhikkhunīs had a storehouse confiscated; second, they had him fined; third, they had him bound; now they will have him executed!" The bhikkhunīs heard those people complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … complained, criticized, and spread it about: "How can the noble lady Thullanandā live engaging in litigation?" Then those bhikkhunīs reported this matter to the bhikkhus. …
"Is it true, bhikkhus, as they say, that the bhikkhunī Thullanandā lives engaging in litigation?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How, bhikkhus, can the bhikkhunī Thullanandā live engaging in litigation? This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule:
"Should any bhikkhunī live engaging in litigation (usuyyavādikā) with a householder, or a householder's son, or a slave, or a worker, or even with an ascetic wanderer, this bhikkhunī has fallen into a matter entailing an offense at the first act (paṭhamāpattika), entailing sending away (nissāraṇīya), a saṅghādisesa."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.