[40] 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 pupil (antevāsinī) of Bhaddā Kāpilānī, having quarrelled with the bhikkhunīs, went to a family of her relatives in a village. Bhaddā Kāpilānī, not seeing that bhikkhunī, asked the bhikkhunīs: "Where is the one of such-and-such a name? She is not to be seen." "Having quarrelled with the bhikkhunīs, venerable lady, she is not to be seen." "Dear ladies, in such-and-such a village is her relatives' family; go there and search." The bhikkhunīs, having gone there and seen that bhikkhunī, said this: "Why, venerable lady, have you come alone? You have not been assaulted, have you?" "I have not been assaulted, venerable ladies."
Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … complained, criticized, and spread it about: "How indeed can a bhikkhunī go alone among villages?" … "Is it true, bhikkhus, as is said, that a bhikkhunī goes alone among villages?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How indeed, bhikkhus, could a bhikkhunī go alone among villages? This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule (sikkhāpada): Should any bhikkhunī go alone among villages, this bhikkhunī too has fallen into a matter entailing an offence at the very first act (paṭhamāpattika), a saṅghādisesa entailing removal (nissāraṇīya)." And thus was this training rule laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhunīs.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.