Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Bhagga country at Susumāragira in the Bhesakaḷā Grove, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye. the monks in the Kokanada stilt house were receiving the drinking-water vessel with hands soiled with food. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū kokanade pāsāde sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṁ paṭiggaṇhanti. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the Sakyan monastics receive drinking-water vessels with hands soiled with food? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṁ paṭiggahessanti, seyyathāpi gihī kāmabhogino”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 can those monks do this?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhū sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṁ paṭiggahessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that they do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṁ paṭiggaṇhantī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can those foolish men do this? kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṁ paṭiggahessanti. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—