[496] How is a bhikkhu one who has been seen, heard about, and suspected with regard to failure in virtue (sīlavipatti)? Here, bhikkhus, by whatever modes (ākāra), by whatever characteristics (liṅga), by whatever signs (nimitta) a bhikkhu is seen, heard about, and suspected with regard to failure in virtue — by those modes, by those characteristics, by those signs a bhikkhu sees a bhikkhu who has been seen, heard about, and suspected with regard to failure in virtue. Now, a bhikkhu may not himself see a bhikkhu who has been seen, heard about, and suspected with regard to failure in virtue, but another bhikkhu informs the bhikkhu: "Friend, the bhikkhu named so-and-so has been seen, heard about, and suspected with regard to failure in virtue." Or a bhikkhu may not himself see a bhikkhu who has been seen, heard about, and suspected with regard to failure in virtue, nor does another bhikkhu inform the bhikkhu: "Friend, the bhikkhu named so-and-so has been seen, heard about, and suspected with regard to failure in virtue," but that very bhikkhu himself informs the bhikkhu: "Friend, I have been seen, heard about, and suspected with regard to failure in virtue." Bhikkhus, if he wishes, on the Uposatha day — either the fourteenth or the fifteenth — when that person is present, the bhikkhu, on account of what was seen, what was heard, and that suspicion, may declare in the midst of the Saṅgha:
"Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha listen to me. The person named so-and-so has been seen, heard about, and suspected with regard to failure in virtue. I suspend the Pātimokkha for him; the Pātimokkha should not be recited while he is present."
This is a legitimate suspension of the Pātimokkha (pātimokkhaṭṭhapana).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.