[212] Now at that time the mother of a certain bhikkhu was sick. She sent a messenger to her son, saying: "I am sick; I desire my son's coming." Then it occurred to that bhikkhu: "It has been laid down by the Blessed One that in the case of seven [kinds of persons] one may go on seven-day business (sattāhakaraṇīya) when sent for, but not when not sent for; and that in the case of the five one may go on seven-day business even when not sent for, how much more when sent for. Now this mother of mine is sick, and she is not a female lay follower (upāsikā). How, then, should I proceed?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, I allow going on seven-day business even when not sent for — how much more when sent for — in the case of seven: for a bhikkhu, a bhikkhunī, a probationer (sikkhamānā), a novice monk (sāmaṇera), a novice nun (sāmaṇerī), a mother, and a father. Bhikkhus, I allow going on seven-day business in the case of these seven even when not sent for, how much more when sent for. The return must be made within seven days.
"Bhikkhus, in this case a bhikkhu's mother is sick. If she should send a messenger to her son, saying: 'I am sick; let my son come — I desire my son's coming,' then, bhikkhus, one should go on seven-day business even when not sent for, how much more when sent for, [thinking:] 'I shall seek food for the sick, or I shall seek food for those who tend the sick, or I shall seek medicine for the sick, or I shall inquire [after her], or I shall attend [on her].' The return must be made within seven days.
"Bhikkhus, in this case a bhikkhu's father is sick. If he should send a messenger to his son, saying: 'I am sick; let my son come — I desire my son's coming,' then, bhikkhus, one should go on seven-day business even when not sent for, how much more when sent for, [thinking:] 'I shall seek food for the sick, or I shall seek food for those who tend the sick, or I shall seek medicine for the sick, or I shall inquire [after him], or I shall attend [on him].' The return must be made within seven days.
"Bhikkhus, in this case a bhikkhu's brother is sick. If he should send a messenger to his brother, saying: 'I am sick; let my brother come — I desire my brother's coming,' then, bhikkhus, one should go on seven-day business when sent for, but not when not sent for. The return must be made within seven days.
"Bhikkhus, in this case a bhikkhu's sister is sick. If she should send a messenger to the bhikkhu, saying: 'I am sick; let my brother come — I desire my brother's coming,' then, bhikkhus, one should go on seven-day business when sent for, but not when not sent for. The return must be made within seven days.
"Bhikkhus, in this case a bhikkhu's relative is sick. If he should send a messenger to the bhikkhu, saying: 'I am sick; let the venerable one come — I desire the venerable one's coming,' then, bhikkhus, one should go on seven-day business when sent for, but not when not sent for. The return must be made within seven days.
"Bhikkhus, in this case a man in a bhikkhu's employ (bhatika) is sick. If he should send a messenger to the bhikkhus, saying: 'I am sick; let the bhikkhus come — I desire the bhikkhus' coming,' then, bhikkhus, one should go on seven-day business when sent for, but not when not sent for. The return must be made within seven days."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.