[22] Then the Venerable Soṇa thought: "The Blessed One is exchanging friendly greetings with me; this is the time for that which my preceptor (upajjhāya) instructed me to say." Rising from his seat, arranging his upper robe over one shoulder, and bowing down with his head at the feet of the Blessed One, he said this to the Blessed One:
"Venerable sir, my preceptor, the Venerable Mahākaccāna, pays homage with his head at the feet of the Blessed One, and he says this:
"Venerable sir, Avanti of the Southern Route (Avantidakkhiṇāpatha) has few bhikkhus. Only after the passing of three years, with difficulty and with trouble, having caused a Saṅgha of ten bhikkhus to assemble from here and there, did I obtain full ordination (upasampadā). Perhaps the Blessed One might allow full ordination in Avanti of the Southern Route with a smaller group.
"Venerable sir, in Avanti of the Southern Route the ground is dark on the surface, hard, and roughened by cattle hooves (gokaṇṭaka). Perhaps the Blessed One might allow, in Avanti of the Southern Route, sandals with multiple linings.
"Venerable sir, in Avanti of the Southern Route people set store by bathing and hold that water purifies. Perhaps the Blessed One might allow, in Avanti of the Southern Route, constant bathing.
"Venerable sir, in Avanti of the Southern Route hides are the coverings—sheep hide, goat hide, deer hide. Just as, venerable sir, in the middle country the eragu, moragu, majjāru, and jantu grasses [serve as coverings], even so, venerable sir, in Avanti of the Southern Route hides are the coverings—sheep hide, goat hide, deer hide. Perhaps the Blessed One might allow, in Avanti of the Southern Route, hides as coverings—sheep hide, goat hide, deer hide.
"Venerable sir, at present people give robes for bhikkhus who have gone outside the boundary (sīmā), saying: 'We give this robe to the one named so-and-so.' They come and announce: 'Friend, a robe has been given to you by people named so-and-so.' Those bhikkhus, being scrupulous, do not accept it, thinking: 'Let it not become subject to forfeiture (nissaggiya) for us.' Perhaps the Blessed One might explain the proper course of procedure regarding robes."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.