Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. the monks from the group of six were making robes and they asked for a large amount of thread. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū cīvarakārasamaye bahuṁ suttaṁ viññāpesuṁ. But when their robes were finished, there was much thread left over. Katepi cīvare bahuṁ suttaṁ avasiṭṭhaṁ hoti. They said, Atha kho chabbaggiyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi—“Well, let’s ask for even more thread and get weavers to weave us robe-cloth.” “handa mayaṁ, āvuso, aññampi suttaṁ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṁ vāyāpemā”ti. Atha kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū aññampi suttaṁ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṁ vāyāpesuṁ. Yet even when that robe-cloth had been woven, there was much thread left over. Vītepi cīvare bahuṁ suttaṁ avasiṭṭhaṁ hoti. A second time they asked for more thread and had weavers weave them robe-cloth. Dutiyampi kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū aññampi suttaṁ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṁ vāyāpesuṁ. Once again there was much thread left over. Vītepi cīvare bahuṁ suttaṁ avasiṭṭhaṁ hoti. A third time they asked for more thread and had weavers weave them robe-cloth. Tatiyampi kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū aññampi suttaṁ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṁ vāyāpesuṁ. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could the Sakyan monastics ask for thread and then get weavers to weave them robe-cloth?” “kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā sāmaṁ suttaṁ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṁ vāyāpessantī”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of those people, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could the monks from the group of six ask for thread and then get weavers to weave them robe-cloth?” “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū sāmaṁ suttaṁ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṁ vāyāpessantī”ti.

After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned those monks: Atha kho te bhikkhū chabbaggiye bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, sāmaṁ suttaṁ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṁ vāyāpethā”ti?

“It’s true, sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish men, how could you do this? kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, sāmaṁ suttaṁ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṁ vāyāpessatha. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—