[272] Now at that time a certain chief minister who was a follower of the Ājīvakas held a meal for the Saṅgha (saṅghabhatta). The venerable Upananda the Sakyan, arriving late, made the bhikkhu seated next in order get up while his meal was still unfinished. The refectory fell into uproar. Then that chief minister complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, arriving late, make a bhikkhu seated next in order get up while his meal is still unfinished? The refectory has fallen into uproar. Surely it is possible to eat as much as one wants even seated in another place?" Bhikkhus heard that chief minister complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … complained, criticized, and spread it about: "How can the venerable Upananda the Sakyan, arriving late, make a bhikkhu seated next in order get up while his meal is still unfinished? The refectory has fallen into uproar." Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. … "Is it true, as they say, Upananda, that you, arriving late, made a bhikkhu seated next in order get up while his meal was still unfinished, and the refectory fell into uproar?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "How can you, foolish man, arriving late, make a bhikkhu seated next in order get up while his meal is still unfinished, so that the refectory fell into uproar? This, foolish man, is not for the arousing of confidence in those without confidence …" Having rebuked him and given a talk on the Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu seated next in order is not to be made to get up while his meal is unfinished. Whoever should make him get up commits an offense of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa). If one does make him get up, that bhikkhu [who was made to get up] is to be regarded as one who has refused further food (pavārita); and he [who made him get up] should be told, 'Go, fetch water.' If in this way it can be obtained, that is good; if it cannot be obtained, then, having properly swallowed his lumps of rice, he should give the seat to the more senior bhikkhu. But, bhikkhus, I do not say that by any means whatever may the seat of a more senior bhikkhu be withheld. Whoever should withhold it commits an offense of wrong-doing."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.