[205] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Veḷuvana, at the Kalandakanivāpa (the Squirrels' Feeding Ground). Now at that time the rains residence (vassāvāsa) had not been laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus. So the bhikkhus wandered on tour during the cold season, the hot season, and the rainy season alike. People looked down upon this, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, wander on tour during the cold season, the hot season, and the rainy season, trampling down the green grasses, injuring life possessed of one faculty, and bringing many small creatures to destruction? Why, even these wanderers of other sects, whose teaching is poorly proclaimed, settle down and keep to a rains residence; why, even these birds, having made their nests in the treetops, settle down and keep to a rains residence; but these ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, wander on tour during the cold season, the hot season, and the rainy season, trampling down the green grasses, injuring life possessed of one faculty, and bringing many small creatures to destruction."
Bhikkhus heard those people looking down upon this, criticizing, and spreading it about. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on account of that, in that connection, having given a Dhamma talk, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, I allow you to enter upon the rains (vassa)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.