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 another man, Tena kho pana samayena aññataro puriso aññataraṁ purisaṁ etadavoca—“I’m going to give robe-cloth to Venerable Upananda.” “ayyaṁ upanandaṁ cīvarena acchādessāmī”ti. And he replied, Sopi evamāha—“So am I.” “ahampi ayyaṁ upanandaṁ cīvarena acchādessāmī”ti.

An alms-collecting monk heard that conversation. Assosi kho aññataro piṇḍacāriko bhikkhu tesaṁ purisānaṁ imaṁ kathāsallāpaṁ. 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 two men telling each other Amukasmiṁ okāse aññataro puriso aññataraṁ purisaṁ etadavoca—that they’re each going to give you robe-cloth.” ‘ayyaṁ upanandaṁ cīvarena acchādessāmī’ti. Sopi evamāha—‘ahampi ayyaṁ upanandaṁ cīvarena acchādessāmī’”ti.

“They are my supporters.” “Atthāvuso, maṁ te upaṭṭhākā”ti.

Upananda then went to those men and said, Atha kho āyasmā upanando sakyaputto yena te purisā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te purise etadavoca—“Is it true that you want to give me robe-cloth?” “saccaṁ kira maṁ tumhe, āvuso, cīvarehi acchādetukāmātthā”ti?

“Yes, “Api nayya, evaṁ hoti—that’s just what we were thinking.” ‘ayyaṁ upanandaṁ cīvarehi acchādessāmā’”ti.

“If that’s the case, then give me such-and-such robe-cloth. “Sace kho maṁ tumhe, āvuso, cīvarehi acchādetukāmāttha, evarūpena cīvarena acchādetha, For what’s the point of giving robe-cloth that I won’t use?” kyāhaṁ tehi acchannopi karissāmi, yānāhaṁ na paribhuñjissāmī”ti.

Those men complained and criticized him, Atha kho te purisā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“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 cīvarehi acchādetuṁ. How could Venerable Upananda come to us and say what kind of robe-cloth he wants without first being invited by us to do so?” Kathañhi nāma ayyo upanando amhehi pubbe appavārito upasaṅkamitvā cīvare vikappaṁ āpajjissatī”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of those men, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ purisānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. 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 householders and say what kind of robe-cloth he wants without first being invited to do so?” “kathañhi nāma āyasmā upanando sakyaputto pubbe appavārito gahapatike 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 gahapatike upasaṅkamitvā cīvare vikappaṁ āpajjasī”ti?

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

“Are they relatives of yours?” “Ñātakā te, upananda, aññātakā”ti?

“No.” “Aññātakā, 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, aññātakānaṁ na jānāti patirūpaṁ vā appatirūpaṁ vā santaṁ vā asantaṁ vā. And still you did this. Tattha nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, pubbe appavārito aññātake gahapatike 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—