[87] Then the Blessed One, in that connection, on that account, had the Saṅgha of bhikkhus convened and questioned the bhikkhus: "Is it true, bhikkhus, as is said, that the bhikkhus who are followers of Assaji and Punabbasu, residents at Kīṭāgiri, shameless, evil bhikkhus, engage in misconduct of this kind: they plant flowering plants and also have them planted … and they engage in various kinds of misconduct; and that the people who formerly had faith and were confident are now without faith and unconfident; that even the former channels of giving to the Saṅgha are now cut off; that well-conducted bhikkhus depart, while evil bhikkhus dwell there?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Awakened One, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "It is unfitting, bhikkhus, for those foolish men … How indeed, bhikkhus, could those foolish men engage in misconduct of this kind: they will plant flowering plants and also have them planted; they will water them and also have them watered; they will pluck them and also have them plucked; they will string them together and also have them strung; they will make garlands with stalks on one side and also have them made; they will make garlands with stalks on both sides and also have them made; they will make flower-sprays (mañjarikā) and also have them made; they will make flower-clusters (vidhutikā) and also have them made; they will make chaplets (vaṭaṃsaka) and also have them made; they will make pendant garlands (āveḷa) and also have them made; they will make flower breast-plates (uracchada) and also have them made. For women of respectable families, for daughters of respectable families, for girls of respectable families, for daughters-in-law of respectable families, and for female slaves of respectable families, they will carry garlands with stalks on one side and also have them carried; they will carry garlands with stalks on both sides and also have them carried; they will carry flower-sprays and also have them carried; they will carry flower-clusters and also have them carried; they will carry chaplets and also have them carried; they will carry pendant garlands and also have them carried; they will carry flower breast-plates and also have them carried. Together with women of respectable families, daughters of respectable families, girls of respectable families, daughters-in-law of respectable families, and female slaves of respectable families, they will eat from a single vessel; they will drink from a single cup; they will sit on a single seat; they will lie down on a single bed; they will lie down on a single mat; they will lie down under a single covering; they will lie down on a single mat under a single covering. They will eat at the wrong time; they will drink intoxicating drink; they will wear garlands, perfumes, and unguents; they will dance, they will sing, they will play instruments, they will perform. With a woman dancing they will dance; with a woman dancing they will sing; with a woman dancing they will play instruments; with a woman dancing they will perform. With a woman singing they will dance; with a woman singing they will sing; with a woman singing they will play instruments; with a woman singing they will perform. With a woman playing instruments they will dance; with a woman playing instruments they will sing; with a woman playing instruments they will play instruments; with a woman playing instruments they will perform. With a woman performing they will dance; with a woman performing they will sing; with a woman performing they will play instruments; with a woman performing they will perform. They will play on eight-row boards; they will play on ten-row boards; they will play on imaginary boards in the air; they will play at stepping-diagrams; they will play at spillikins; they will play at dice-throwing; they will play at tip-cat; they will play at hand-pictures with a lac-dipped stick; they will play at dice; they will play at blowing through leaf-pipes; they will play with toy ploughs; they will play at turning somersaults; they will play with toy windmills; they will play with toy leaf-measures; they will play with toy carts; they will play with toy bows; they will play at guessing letters; they will play at guessing thoughts; they will play at mimicking deformities. They will train in elephant-riding; they will train in horsemanship; they will train in chariot-driving; they will train in archery; they will train in swordsmanship. They will run before an elephant; they will run before a horse; they will run before a chariot; they will run and run to and fro; they will whistle; they will clap their hands; they will wrestle; they will fight with fists. Having spread out the outer robe (saṅghāṭi) in the middle of a dancing arena, they will say to a dancing girl: 'Dance here, sister'; they will make gestures of approval (naḷāṭikā); and they will engage in various kinds of misconduct. Even those people who formerly had faith and were confident are now without faith and unconfident; even the former channels of giving to the Saṅgha are now cut off; well-conducted bhikkhus depart, evil bhikkhus dwell there. This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence …"
Having rebuked them and given a talk on the Dhamma, he addressed Sāriputta and Moggallāna: "Go, Sāriputta and Moggallāna; having gone to Kīṭāgiri, carry out an act of banishment (pabbājanīyakamma) from Kīṭāgiri against the bhikkhus who are followers of Assaji and Punabbasu; these are your co-residents (saddhivihārī)."
"How, venerable sir, shall we carry out an act of banishment from Kīṭāgiri against the bhikkhus who are followers of Assaji and Punabbasu? Those bhikkhus are fierce and rough."
"Then, Sāriputta and Moggallāna, go together with many bhikkhus."
"Yes, venerable sir," Sāriputta and Moggallāna assented to the Blessed One.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.