[162] Now at that time the Venerable Mahākassapa, coming from Andhakavinda to Rājagaha for the uposatha, while crossing a river on the way, was nearly swept away, and his robes were wet. The bhikkhus said this to the Venerable Mahākassapa: "Why, friend, are your robes wet?" "Here, friends, coming from Andhakavinda to Rājagaha for the uposatha, while crossing a river on the way I was nearly swept away; because of that my robes are wet." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, whatever boundary (sīmā) has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha as being of common communion (samānasaṃvāsa) and of a single uposatha, let the Saṅgha agree upon that boundary as a place of non-separation from the three robes (ticīvarena avippavāsa). And thus, bhikkhus, should it be agreed upon. The Saṅgha should be informed by a competent and capable bhikkhu:
"'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. Whatever boundary has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha as being of common communion and of a single uposatha — if it is the right time for the Saṅgha, let the Saṅgha agree upon that boundary as a place of non-separation from the three robes. This is the motion (ñatti).
"'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. Whatever boundary has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha as being of common communion and of a single uposatha, the Saṅgha agrees upon that boundary as a place of non-separation from the three robes. To whichever venerable one the agreement upon this boundary as a place of non-separation from the three robes is acceptable, let him be silent; to whomever it is not acceptable, let him speak.
"'That boundary has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha as a place of non-separation from the three robes. It is acceptable to the Saṅgha; therefore it is silent. Thus do I hold it.'"
Now at that time the bhikkhus, thinking, "The Blessed One has allowed the agreement upon non-separation from the three robes," deposited their robes within inhabited houses. Those robes were lost, and were burned, and were gnawed by rats. The bhikkhus came to be poorly clothed, with coarse robes. The bhikkhus said this: "Why, friends, are you poorly clothed, with coarse robes?" "Here, friends, thinking, 'The Blessed One has allowed the agreement upon non-separation from the three robes,' we deposited our robes within inhabited houses; those robes were lost, and were burned, and were gnawed by rats. Because of that we are poorly clothed, with coarse robes." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, whatever boundary has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha as being of common communion and of a single uposatha, let the Saṅgha agree upon that boundary as a place of non-separation from the three robes, excepting a village and the vicinity of a village. And thus, bhikkhus, should it be agreed upon. The Saṅgha should be informed by a competent and capable bhikkhu:
"'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. Whatever boundary has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha as being of common communion and of a single uposatha — if it is the right time for the Saṅgha, let the Saṅgha agree upon that boundary as a place of non-separation from the three robes, excepting a village and the vicinity of a village. This is the motion.
"'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. Whatever boundary has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha as being of common communion and of a single uposatha, the Saṅgha agrees upon that boundary as a place of non-separation from the three robes, excepting a village and the vicinity of a village. To whichever venerable one the agreement upon this boundary as a place of non-separation from the three robes, excepting a village and the vicinity of a village, is acceptable, let him be silent; to whomever it is not acceptable, let him speak.
"'That boundary has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha as a place of non-separation from the three robes, excepting a village and the vicinity of a village. It is acceptable to the Saṅgha; therefore it is silent. Thus do I hold it.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.