[180] Now at that time there were two bhikkhus, brothers, named Meṭṭha and Kokuṭṭha, brahmins by birth, of fine speech and fine enunciation. They approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those bhikkhus said this to the Blessed One: "At present, venerable sir, bhikkhus of various names, various clans, various castes, and various families have gone forth. They are corrupting the word of the Buddha with their own dialect (sakāya niruttiyā). Come, venerable sir, let us render the word of the Buddha into metrical form (chandaso)."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How can you, foolish men, say this: 'Come, venerable sir, let us render the word of the Buddha into metrical form'? This, foolish men, does not conduce to the confidence of those without confidence …" Having rebuked them and given a talk on the Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, the word of the Buddha is not to be rendered into metrical form. Whoever should so render it commits an offence of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa). I allow you, bhikkhus, to learn the word of the Buddha each in his own dialect."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.