[216] Now at that time, bhikkhus who had entered upon the rains (vassūpagata) in a certain dwelling in the Kosalan country did not obtain their fill, as much as they needed, of food whether coarse or fine. They reported this matter to the Blessed One.
"Bhikkhus, here bhikkhus who have entered upon the rains do not obtain their fill, as much as they need, of food whether coarse or fine. Thinking, 'This indeed is an obstacle,' they should depart. There is no offense (anāpatti) for the interruption of the rains (vassaccheda).
"Bhikkhus, here bhikkhus who have entered upon the rains obtain their fill, as much as they need, of food whether coarse or fine, but do not obtain suitable foods. Thinking, 'This indeed is an obstacle,' they should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here bhikkhus who have entered upon the rains obtain their fill, as much as they need, of food whether coarse or fine, and obtain suitable foods, but do not obtain suitable medicines. Thinking, 'This indeed is an obstacle,' they should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here bhikkhus who have entered upon the rains obtain their fill, as much as they need, of food whether coarse or fine, obtain suitable foods, and obtain suitable medicines, but do not obtain a proper attendant. Thinking, 'This indeed is an obstacle,' they should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a woman invites a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains: 'Come, venerable sir, I will give you money, or I will give you gold, or I will give you a field, or I will give you a plot of land, or I will give you an ox, or I will give you a cow, or I will give you a male slave, or I will give you a female slave, or I will give you my daughter as a wife, or I myself will be your wife, or I will bring you another wife.' If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'The mind (citta), the Blessed One has said, is quick to change; there might be an obstacle to my life of celibacy (brahmacariya),' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a prostitute invites a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains …; a grown unmarried woman invites him, a paṇḍaka invites him, relatives invite him, kings invite him, thieves invite him, rogues invite him: 'Come, venerable sir, we will give you money, or we will give you gold, or we will give you a field, or we will give you a plot of land, or we will give you an ox, or we will give you a cow, or we will give you a male slave, or we will give you a female slave, or we will give you a daughter as a wife, or we will bring you another wife.' If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'The mind, the Blessed One has said, is quick to change; there might be an obstacle to my life of celibacy,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains sees an ownerless treasure. If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'The mind, the Blessed One has said, is quick to change; there might be an obstacle to my life of celibacy,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains sees several bhikkhus striving for a schism in the Saṅgha (saṅghabheda). If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'Schism in the Saṅgha has been declared grave by the Blessed One; let not the Saṅgha be divided while I am present,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains hears: 'Several bhikkhus, it is said, are striving for a schism in the Saṅgha.' If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'Schism in the Saṅgha has been declared grave by the Blessed One; let not the Saṅgha be divided while I am present,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains hears: 'In such-and-such a dwelling, it is said, several bhikkhus are striving for a schism in the Saṅgha.' If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'Those bhikkhus are my friends; I will say to them: "Friends, schism in the Saṅgha has been declared grave by the Blessed One; let not schism in the Saṅgha find favor with the venerable ones." They will do my bidding, they will heed me, they will lend an ear,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains hears: 'In such-and-such a dwelling, it is said, several bhikkhus are striving for a schism in the Saṅgha.' If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'Those bhikkhus are not my friends, but those who are their friends are my friends; I will tell them, and being told by me, they will say to those bhikkhus: "Friends, schism in the Saṅgha has been declared grave by the Blessed One; let not schism in the Saṅgha find favor with the venerable ones." They will do my bidding, they will heed, they will lend an ear,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains hears: 'In such-and-such a dwelling, it is said, the Saṅgha has been divided by several bhikkhus.' If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'Those bhikkhus are my friends; I will say to them: "Friends, schism in the Saṅgha has been declared grave by the Blessed One; let not schism in the Saṅgha find favor with the venerable ones." They will do my bidding, they will heed me, they will lend an ear,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains hears: 'In such-and-such a dwelling, it is said, the Saṅgha has been divided by several bhikkhus.' If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'Those bhikkhus are not my friends, but those who are their friends are my friends; I will tell them, and being told by me, they will say to those bhikkhus: "Friends, schism in the Saṅgha has been declared grave by the Blessed One; let not schism in the Saṅgha find favor with the venerable ones." They will do my bidding, they will heed, they will lend an ear,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains hears: 'In such-and-such a dwelling, it is said, several bhikkhunīs are striving for a schism in the Saṅgha.' If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'Those bhikkhunīs are my friends; I will say to them: "Sisters, schism in the Saṅgha has been declared grave by the Blessed One; let not schism in the Saṅgha find favor with the sisters." They will do my bidding, they will heed me, they will lend an ear,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains hears: 'In such-and-such a dwelling, it is said, several bhikkhunīs are striving for a schism in the Saṅgha.' If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'Those bhikkhunīs are not my friends, but those who are their friends are my friends; I will tell them, and being told by me, they will say to those bhikkhunīs: "Sisters, schism in the Saṅgha has been declared grave by the Blessed One; let not schism in the Saṅgha find favor with the sisters." They will do my bidding, they will heed, they will lend an ear,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains hears: 'In such-and-such a dwelling, it is said, the Saṅgha has been divided by several bhikkhunīs.' If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'Those bhikkhunīs are my friends; I will say to them: "Sisters, schism in the Saṅgha has been declared grave by the Blessed One; let not schism in the Saṅgha find favor with the sisters." They will do my bidding, they will heed me, they will lend an ear,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains.
"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu who has entered upon the rains hears: 'In such-and-such a dwelling, it is said, the Saṅgha has been divided by several bhikkhunīs.' If in that case it occurs to the bhikkhu, 'Those bhikkhunīs are not my friends, but those who are their friends are my friends; I will tell them, and being told by me, they will say to those bhikkhunīs: "Sisters, schism in the Saṅgha has been declared grave by the Blessed One; let not schism in the Saṅgha find favor with the sisters." They will do my bidding, they will heed, they will lend an ear,' he should depart. There is no offense for the interruption of the rains."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.