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 discarding their bowl-washing water containing rice in inhabited areas. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū kokanade pāsāde sasitthakaṁ pattadhovanaṁ antaraghare chaḍḍenti. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the Sakyan monastics discard their bowl-washing water containing rice in inhabited areas? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā sasitthakaṁ pattadhovanaṁ antaraghare chaḍḍessanti, 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 sasitthakaṁ pattadhovanaṁ antaraghare chaḍḍessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that they do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sasitthakaṁ pattadhovanaṁ antaraghare chaḍḍentī”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 sasitthakaṁ pattadhovanaṁ antaraghare chaḍḍessanti. 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—