[596] Now at that time a meal of the householder Kalyāṇabhattika ("provider of fine meals") had been assigned for the morrow to the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka. Then the householder Kalyāṇabhattika went to the monastery on some business or other, and approached the venerable Dabba Mallaputta; having approached, he paid homage to the venerable Dabba Mallaputta and sat down at one side. As the householder Kalyāṇabhattika sat at one side, the venerable Dabba Mallaputta instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened him with a talk on the Dhamma. Then the householder Kalyāṇabhattika, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the venerable Dabba Mallaputta with a talk on the Dhamma, said to the venerable Dabba Mallaputta: "Venerable sir, to whom has the meal in our house been assigned for the morrow?"
"Householder, the meal in your house for the morrow has been assigned to the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka."
Then the householder Kalyāṇabhattika was displeased, thinking: "How can evil bhikkhus eat in our house?" Going to his house, he instructed his maidservant: "For those who come tomorrow for the meal, prepare a seat in the gatehouse and serve them broken rice with sour gruel as its accompaniment." "Yes, master," the maidservant replied to the householder Kalyāṇabhattika.
Then the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka said to one another: "Friend, yesterday the meal of the householder Kalyāṇabhattika was assigned to us. Tomorrow the householder Kalyāṇabhattika, together with his wife and children, will wait upon us and serve us in person. Some will offer us rice, some will offer us curry, some will offer us oil, some will offer us choice delicacies." And out of that very gladness they did not sleep that night as much as they would have wished. Then in the morning the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka dressed, took their bowls and robes, and approached the residence of the householder Kalyāṇabhattika. The maidservant saw the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka coming from afar; having seen them, she prepared a seat in the gatehouse and said to the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka: "Be seated, venerable sirs."
Then it occurred to the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka: "Without doubt the meal cannot yet be ready, since we are made to sit in the gatehouse." Then the maidservant came up with broken rice with sour gruel as its accompaniment, saying: "Eat, venerable sirs."
"Sister, we are recipients of a regular meal."
"I know that the masters are recipients of a regular meal. But only yesterday I was instructed by the householder: 'For those who come tomorrow for the meal, prepare a seat in the gatehouse and serve them broken rice with sour gruel as its accompaniment.' Eat, venerable sirs."
Then the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka said to one another: "Friend, yesterday the householder Kalyāṇabhattika went to the monastery, to the presence of Dabba Mallaputta. Without doubt we have been set at variance with the householder by Dabba Mallaputta." And out of that very grief they did not eat as much as they would have wished. Then the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka, after the meal, having returned from their alms-round, went to the monastery, put away their bowls and robes, and sat down outside the monastery gatehouse, their outer robes wrapped around their knees — silent, abashed, with drooping shoulders and downcast faces, brooding, at a loss for words.
Then the bhikkhunī Mettiyā approached the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka; having approached, she said to the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka: "I pay homage, masters." When this was said, the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka did not speak to her. A second time … A third time the bhikkhunī Mettiyā said to the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka: "I pay homage, masters." A third time the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka did not speak to her.
"How have I offended against the masters? Why do the masters not speak to me?"
"It is because, sister, while we are being harassed by Dabba Mallaputta, you look on with indifference."
"What can I do, masters?"
"If you were willing, sister, this very day the Blessed One could be made to expel the venerable Dabba Mallaputta."
"What am I to do, masters? What is it possible for me to do?"
"Come, sister, approach the Blessed One; having approached, say this to the Blessed One: 'Venerable sir, this is not fitting, it is not proper. The quarter that was without fear, without calamity, without danger — that very quarter is now with fear, with calamity, with danger. Where there was calm, there is now a gale. The very water, it seems, is ablaze. I have been violated by master Dabba Mallaputta.'"
"Yes, masters," the bhikkhunī Mettiyā replied to the bhikkhus Mettiya and Bhummajaka, and she approached the Blessed One; having approached, she paid homage to the Blessed One and stood at one side. Standing at one side, the bhikkhunī Mettiyā said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, this is not fitting, it is not proper. The quarter that was without fear, without calamity, without danger — that very quarter is now with fear, with calamity, with danger. Where there was calm, there is now a gale. The very water, it seems, is ablaze. I have been violated by master Dabba Mallaputta."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.