[64] People heard that, “They say conjey and honey-lumps have been allowed for the monks by the Blessed One.”

They prepared eating-conjey and honey-lumps at the right time. Filled by the eating-conjey and honey-lumps at the right time, they didn’t eat (even) fancy forms of (food) in the meal hall. Now on that occasion the Saṅgha of monks, with the Buddha at its head, had been invited for the next day’s meal by a certain newly faithful (king’s) minister. Then the thought occurred to the newly faithful (king’s) minister, “What if I were to prepare 1,250 dishes of meat for the 1,250 monks and present one dish of meat to each monk?”

(Mv.VI.25.2) Then as the night was ending, the newly faithful (king’s) minister, having had exquisite staple and non-staple food prepared, as well as 1,250 dishes of meat, had them announce the time to the Blessed One, “It’s time, lord. The meal is ready.”

Then the Blessed One, early in the morning, adjusted his under robe and — carrying his bowl and robes — went to the residence of the newly faithful (king’s) minister. On arrival, he sat down on the seat laid out, along with the Saṅgha of monks.

(Mv.VI.25.3) Then the newly faithful (king’s) minster served the monks in the meal hall (of his house). The monks said, “Give just a little, friend. Give just a little, friend.”

“Venerable sirs, don’t accept so little, (with the thought,) ‘This (king’s) minister is newly faithful.’ I have prepared a great quantity of staple and non-staple food, as well as 1,250 dishes of meat, (thinking,) ‘I’ll present one dish of meat to each monk.’ Venerable sirs, take as much as you want.”

“That’s not the reason why we’re accepting so little, friend. It’s simply that we’re full from eating-conjey and honey-lumps, (offered at) the right time. That’s why we’re accepting so little.”

(Mv.VI.25.4) So the newly faithful (king’s) minister criticized and complained and spread it about: “How can the venerables eat the eating-conjey of another (donor) when they were invited by me? Am I not capable of giving them as much as they want?” Angered and displeased, wishing to find fault, he went along, filling the monks’ bowls, (saying,) “Eat it or take it away.”

Then the newly faithful (king’s) minister, with his own hands, served and satisfied the Saṅgha of monks with the Buddha at its head with exquisite staple and non-staple food. Then, when the Blessed One had finished his meal and withdrawn his hand from the bowl, he sat to one side. The Blessed One — having instructed, urged, roused, & encouraged the newly faithful (king’s) minister with a talk on Dhamma as he was sitting there — got up from his seat and left.

(Mv.VI.25.5) Then, not long after the Blessed One had left, the the newly faithful (king’s) minister became anxious and remorseful, (thinking,) “It’s no gain for me! It’s not a gain for me! It’s ill-gained for me! It’s not well-gained! — in that, angered and displeased, wishing to find fault, I went along, filling the monks’ bowls, (saying,) ‘Eat it or take it away.’ Have I produced a lot of merit or demerit?”

Then the newly faithful (king’s) minister went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to the Blessed One, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One, “Just now, lord, not long after the Blessed One had left, I became anxious and remorseful, (thinking,) ‘It’s no gain for me! It’s not a gain for me! It’s ill-gained for me! It’s not well-gained! — in that, angered and displeased, wishing to find fault, I went along, filling the monks’ bowls, (saying,) “Eat it or take it away.” Have I produced a lot of merit or demerit?’ Lord, have I produced a lot of merit or demerit?”

(Mv.VI.25.6) “Friend, starting from the moment you invited the Saṅgha of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for the next day’s meal, you produced a lot of merit. From the moment each individual grain of cooked rice was accepted by each individual monk, you produced a lot of merit. The heavens have been achieved by you. Then the newly faithful (king’s) minister, (thinking,) “He says it’s a gain for me! He says it’s well-gained for me! He says I’ve produced a lot of merit! He says the heavens have been achieved by me!” thrilled and exultant, got up from his seat, bowed down to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, keeping him to his right, and left.

(Mv.VI.25.7) Then the Blessed One, with regard to this cause, to this incident, had the monks assembled and asked them: “Is it true, monks, as they say, that the monks, being invited to a certain place, consumed the eating-conjey of another (donor)?”

“It’s true, O Blessed One.”

The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them, “Monks, how can these worthless men, being invited to a certain place, consume the eating-conjey of another (donor)? Monks, this neither inspires faith in the faithless ...”

Having rebuked him and given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks:

“Monks, when invited to a certain place, one should not consume the eating-conjey of another (donor). Whoever should consume it is to be dealt with in accordance with the rule. [1].