Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Kosambī in Ghosita’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme. a brahmin prepared a milk drink for the Sangha. Tena kho pana samayena aññatarena brāhmaṇena saṅghassa payopānaṁ paṭiyattaṁ hoti. The monks slurped while drinking the milk. Bhikkhū surusurukārakaṁ khīraṁ pivanti. A monk who was previously an entertainer made a joke of it, saying, Aññataro naṭapubbako bhikkhu evamāha—“It’s as if the whole Sangha is cooled.” “sabboyaṁ maññe saṅgho sītīkato”ti.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could a monk joke about the Sangha?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhu saṅghaṁ ārabbha davaṁ karissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monk, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, bhikkhu, saṅghaṁ ārabbha davaṁ akāsī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked him … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish man, how could you do this? kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, saṅghaṁ ārabbha davaṁ karissasi. This will affect people’s confidence …” Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… After rebuking him … vigarahitvā …pe… he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—

“Monks, you should not joke about the Buddha, the Teaching, or the Sangha. “na, bhikkhave, buddhaṁ vā dhammaṁ vā saṅghaṁ vā ārabbha davo kātabbo. If you do, you commit an offense of wrong conduct.” Yo kareyya, āpatti dukkaṭassā”ti.

After rebuking that monk in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support … Atha kho bhagavā taṁ bhikkhuṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā dubbharatāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—