Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. a certain man said to his wife, Tena kho pana samayena aññataro puriso pajāpatiṁ etadavoca—“I’m going to give robe-cloth to Venerable Upananda.” “ayyaṁ upanandaṁ cīvarena acchādessāmī”ti.

An alms-collecting monk heard that man making that statement. Assosi kho aññataro piṇḍacāriko bhikkhu tassa purisassa imaṁ vācaṁ bhāsamānassa. He then went to Upananda the Sakyan and said, Atha kho so bhikkhu yenāyasmā upanando sakyaputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ upanandaṁ sakyaputtaṁ etadavoca—“Upananda, you have much merit. “mahāpuññosi tvaṁ, āvuso upananda. In such-and-such a place I heard a man tell his wife Amukasmiṁ okāse aññataro puriso pajāpatiṁ etadavoca—that he’s going to give you robe-cloth.” ‘ayyaṁ upanandaṁ cīvarena acchādessāmī’”ti.

“He’s my supporter.” “Atthāvuso, maṁ so upaṭṭhāko”ti.

Upananda then went to that man and said, Atha kho āyasmā upanando sakyaputto yena so puriso tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ purisaṁ etadavoca—“Is it true that you want to give me robe-cloth?” “saccaṁ kira maṁ tvaṁ, āvuso, cīvarena acchādetukāmosī”ti?

“Yes, “Api meyya, evaṁ hoti—that’s just what I was thinking.” ‘ayyaṁ upanandaṁ cīvarena acchādessāmī’”ti.

“If that’s the case, give me such-and-such robe-cloth. “Sace kho maṁ tvaṁ, āvuso, cīvarena acchādetukāmosi, evarūpena cīvarena acchādehi. For what’s the point of giving robe-cloth that I won’t use?” Kyāhaṁ tena acchannopi karissāmi yāhaṁ na paribhuñjissāmī”ti.

That man complained and criticized him, Atha kho so puriso ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“These Sakyan monastics have great desires. They’re not content. “mahicchā ime samaṇā sakyaputtiyā asantuṭṭhā. It’s no easy matter to give them robe-cloth. Nayime sukarā cīvarena acchādetuṁ. How could Venerable Upananda come to me and say what kind of robe-cloth he wants without first being invited by me to do so?” Kathañhi nāma ayyo upanando mayā pubbe appavārito maṁ upasaṅkamitvā cīvare vikappaṁ āpajjissatī”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of that man, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tassa purisassa ujjhāyantassa khiyyantassa vipācentassa. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized him, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Upananda go to a householder and say what kind of robe-cloth he wants without first being invited to do so?” “kathañhi nāma āyasmā upanando sakyaputto pubbe appavārito gahapatikaṁ upasaṅkamitvā cīvare vikappaṁ āpajjissatī”ti.

After rebuking him in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Upananda: Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ upanandaṁ sakyaputtaṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, Upananda, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, upananda, pubbe appavārito gahapatikaṁ upasaṅkamitvā cīvare vikappaṁ āpajjasī”ti?

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

“Is he a relative of yours?” “Ñātako te, upananda, aññātako”ti?

“No.” “Aññātako, bhagavā”ti.

“Foolish man, people who are unrelated don’t know what’s appropriate and inappropriate, what’s good and bad, in dealing with each other. “Aññātako, moghapurisa, aññātakassa na jānāti patirūpaṁ vā appatirūpaṁ vā santaṁ vā asantaṁ vā. And still you did this. Tattha nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, pubbe appavārito aññātakaṁ gahapatikaṁ upasaṅkamitvā cīvare vikappaṁ āpajjissasi. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—