[420] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time the bhikkhunī Caṇḍakālī approached the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha and requested the agreement to sponsor ordination (vuṭṭhāpanasammati). Then the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha, having assessed the bhikkhunī Caṇḍakālī, saying, "Enough for now, lady, with your ordaining," did not give her the agreement to sponsor ordination. The bhikkhunī Caṇḍakālī consented, saying, "Very well."
Now at that time the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha gave the agreement to sponsor ordination to other bhikkhunīs. The bhikkhunī Caṇḍakālī complained, criticized, and spread it about: "It must be that I alone am foolish, I alone am shameless, in that the Saṅgha gives the agreement to sponsor ordination to other bhikkhunīs, but to me alone it does not give it."
Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … they complained, criticized, and spread it about: "How indeed can the lady Caṇḍakālī, being told, 'Enough for now, lady, with your ordaining,' having consented, saying, 'Very well,' afterwards engage in criticizing?" …
"Is it true, bhikkhus, as they say, that the bhikkhunī Caṇḍakālī, being told, 'Enough for now, lady, with your ordaining,' having consented, saying, 'Very well,' afterwards engages in criticizing?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How indeed, bhikkhus, can the bhikkhunī Caṇḍakālī, being told, 'Enough for now, lady, with your ordaining,' having consented, saying, 'Very well,' afterwards engage in criticizing? This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence …
"And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule:
"Should any bhikkhunī, being told, 'Enough for now, lady, with your ordaining,' having consented, saying, 'Very well,' afterwards engage in criticizing, there is an offence of expiation (pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.