From:
Theravāda Vinaya Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law
Mahāvibhaṅga The Great Analysis
Sekhiyakaṇḍa The chapter on training
Parimaṇḍalavagga The subchapter on evenly all around
1. Parimaṇḍalasikkhāpada 1. The training rule on evenly all around
Ime kho panāyasmanto sekhiyā dhammā uddesaṁ āgacchanti. Venerables, these rules to be trained in come up for recitation.
Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,
Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū puratopi pacchatopi olambentā nivāsenti. the monks from the group of six were wearing their sarongs hanging down in front and behind.
Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—People complained and criticized them,
“kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā puratopi pacchatopi olambentā nivāsessanti, seyyathāpi gihī kāmabhogino”ti. “How can the Sakyan monastics wear their sarongs hanging down in front and behind? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”
Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. The monks heard the complaints of those people,
Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks,
“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū puratopi pacchatopi olambentā nivāsessantī”ti. “How can the monks from the group of six wear their sarongs hanging down in front and behind?”
Atha kho te bhikkhū chabbaggiye bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha.
Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṅghaṁ sannipātāpetvā chabbaggiye bhikkhū paṭipucchi—Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks from the group of six:
“saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, puratopi pacchatopi olambentā nivāsethā”ti? “Is it true, monks, that you do this?”
“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti. “It’s true, sir.”
Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… The Buddha rebuked them …
kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, puratopi pacchatopi olambentā nivāsessatha. “Foolish men, how can you do this?
Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… This will affect people’s confidence …” …
evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
“Parimaṇḍalaṁ nivāsessāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti. ‘“I will wear my sarong evenly all around,” this is how you should train.’”
Parimaṇḍalaṁ nivāsetabbaṁ nābhimaṇḍalaṁ jāṇumaṇḍalaṁ paṭicchādentena. One should wear one’s sarong evenly all around, covering the navel and the knees.
Yo anādariyaṁ paṭicca purato vā pacchato vā olambento nivāseti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If a monk, out of disrespect, wears his sarong hanging down in front or behind, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Anāpatti—There is no offense:
asañcicca, if it is unintentional;
assatiyā, if he is not mindful;
ajānantassa, if he does not know;
gilānassa, if he is sick;
āpadāsu, if there is an emergency;
ummattakassa, if he is insane;
ādikammikassāti. if he is the first offender.
Paṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ. The first training rule is finished.