[349] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time several bhikkhunīs, having completed the rains residence (vassa) in a village dwelling, went to Sāvatthī. The bhikkhunīs said this to those bhikkhunīs: "Where did the ladies spend the rains? Was the exhortation (ovāda) effective?"
"Ladies, there were no bhikkhus there; how could the exhortation have been effective?"
Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … criticized, denounced, and spread it about, saying: "How indeed can bhikkhunīs spend the rains in a dwelling where there is no bhikkhu?" …
"Is it true, bhikkhus, as they say, that bhikkhunīs spend the rains in a dwelling where there is no bhikkhu?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How indeed, bhikkhus, can bhikkhunīs spend the rains in a dwelling where there is no bhikkhu? This, bhikkhus, does not conduce to the confidence of those without confidence …
"And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Should any bhikkhunī spend the rains in a dwelling where there is no bhikkhu, there is an offense of pācittiya."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.