Mahavagga 8.12

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Adapted from the Translation by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg

MAHAVAGGA

EIGHTH KHANDHAKA (THE DRESS OF THE BHIKKHUS)

Chapter-12.

1. Now when the Lord Buddha had remained at Rajagaha as long as he thought fit, he set forth on his journey towards Dakkhina-giri (the Southern Hills). And the Lord Buddha beheld how the Magadha rice fields were divided into short pieces,

and in rows, and by outside boundaries (or ridges), and by cross boundaries.

On seeing this the Lord Buddha spoke thus to the venerable Ananda: 'Dost you perceive, Ananda, how the Magadha rice fields are divided into short pieces, and in rows, and by outside boundaries, and by cross boundaries?'

'Even so, Lord.'

'Could you, Ananda, provide robes of a like kind for the Bhikkhus?'

'I could, Lord.'

Now when the Lord Buddha had remained in the Southern Hills as long as he thought fit, he returned again to Rajagaha.

Then Ananda provided robes of a like kind for many Bhikkhus; and going up to the place where the Lord Buddha was, he spoke thus to the Lord Buddha: 'May the Lord Buddha be pleased to look at the robes which I have provided.'

2. Then the Lord Buddha on that occasion addressed the Bhikkhus and said: 'An able man, O Bhikkhus, is Ananda; of great understanding, O Bhikkhus, is Ananda, inasmuch as what has been spoken by me in short that can he understand in full, and can make the cross seams, and the intermediate cross seams, and the greater circles, and the lesser circles, and the turning in, and the lining of the turning in, and the collar piece, and the knee piece, and the elbow piece. And it shall be of torn pieces, roughly sewn together, suitable for a Samana(monk), a thing which his enemies cannot covet. I enjoin upon you, O Bhikkhus, the use of an under robe of torn pieces, and of an upper robe of torn pieces, and of a waist cloth of torn pieces .'