四分律比丘含注戒本 3.3

3.3

The Buddha was in Śrāvastī. The times were scarce and grain was expensive; countless people starved to death. The bhikṣuṇī Utpalavarṇā put on her robes, took her bowl, and entered the city to beg for food. For up to three days, she gave it all to the bhikṣus, and eventually collapsed from hunger on the road, lying with her face in the mud. The laity criticized and mocked this. The bhikṣus reported the fault and informed the Buddha, who rebuked [them] and formulated this precept.