[207] Now at that time the group-of-six bhikkhus (chabbaggiyā), having entered upon the rains residence (vassa), went wandering on tour during the rains. People criticized, complained, and spread it about in the same way: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, go wandering on tour in the winter, in the summer, and in the rains, trampling down the green grasses, harming life that has one faculty, and bringing many small creatures to destruction? For even these wanderers of other sects, whose teaching is badly proclaimed, keep to a rains residence and stay settled; even these birds, having made their nests in the treetops, keep to a rains residence and stay settled. But these ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, go wandering on tour in the winter, in the summer, and in the rains, trampling down the green grasses, harming life that has one faculty, and bringing many small creatures to destruction."
Bhikkhus heard those people criticizing, complaining, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes criticized, complained, and spread it about: "How can the group-of-six bhikkhus, having entered upon the rains residence, go wandering on tour during the rains?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on that occasion and in that connection, having given a talk on the Dhamma, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, having entered upon the rains residence, one should not set out on tour without having stayed for either the first three months or the last three months. Whoever should set out commits an offense of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.