Mahavogga 4.17

Tipitaka >> Vinaya Pitaka >> Khandhaka >> Mahavagga >> Fourth Khandaka >> 4.17

Translated from the Pâli by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg

1. At that time a number of Bhikkhus, companions and friends of each other, entered upon Vassa in a certain district of the Kosala country. In their neighbourhood other Bhikkhus, litigious, contentious, quarrelsome, disputatious persons, who used to raise questions before the Samgha, entered upon Vassa with the intention of inhibiting, on the Pavâranâ day, the Pavâranâ of those Bhikkhus when they should have finished their Vassa residence. Now those Bhikkhus heard: 'In our neighbourhood other Bhikkhus, &c. Well, what are we to do?'

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

2. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a number of Bhikkhus, companions and friends of each other, enter upon Vassa in a certain district. In their neighbourhood other Bhikkhus,. . . . (&c., § 1). I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that those Bhikkhus hold Uposatha twice or thrice on the fourteenth day (of the half-month) in order that they may be able to hold Pavâranâ before those (other) Bhikkhus. If those litigious, contentious,. . . . (&c., § 1) Bhikkhus approach that district, let the resident Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, quickly assemble and hold Pavâranâ; having held Pavâranâ, let them say to them: "We have held our Pavâranâ, friends; do you do, Sirs, as you think fit."

3. 'If those litigious,. . . . (&c., § 1) Bhikkhus come to that residence unexpectedly, let the resident Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, prepare seats (for them), get water for the washing of their feet, foot-stools, and towels, then let them go to meet them, take their bowls and their robes, and offer them (water) to drink; having thus looked after those Bhikkhus, let them go outside the boundary and hold Pavâranâ; having held Pavâranâ, let them say: "We have held our Pavâranâ, friends, do you do, Sirs, as you think fit."

4. 'If they succeed in tbis way, well and good; if they do not succeed, let a learned, competent, resident Bhikkhu proclaim the following ñatti before the resident Bhikkhus: "Let the resident Bhikkhus hear me, Sirs. If you are ready, Sirs, let us now bold Uposatha and recite the Pâtimokkha, and let us hold Pavâranâ on the next new-moon day." If, O Bhikkhus, the litigious,. . . . (&c., § 1) Bhikkhus say to those Bhikkhus: "Well, friends, hold Pavâranâ with us now," let them reply: "You are not masters, friends, of our Pavâranâ; we will not hold Pavâranâ now."

5. 'If, O Bhikkhus, those litigious, (&c., § 1) Bhikkhus stay there till that new-moon day, let a learned, competent, resident Bhikkhu,. . ..

6. 'If, O Bhikkhus, those litigious,. . . . (&c., § 1) Bhikkhus stay there still till that full-moon day, those Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, ought to hold Pavâranâ all of them, no matter whether they like it or not, on the next full-moon day, on the day of the komudî kâtumâsinî.

7. 'If those Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, hold Pavâranâ, and a sick Bhikkhu inhibits the Pavâranâ of a healthy Bhikkhu, let them say (to the inhibiting Bhikkhu): "You are sick, Sir, and the Blessed One has said that a sick person cannot endure being questioned. Wait, friend, until you have recovered; having recovered, you may reprove him, if you like." If they speak to him thus, and he reproves (that Bhikkhu) notwithstanding, he makes himself guilty of the pâkittiya offence of disregard.

8. 'If those Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, hold Pavâranâ, and a healthy Bhikkhu inhibits the Pavâranâ of a sick Bhikkhu, let them say (to the inhibiting Bhikkhu): "This Bhikkhu is sick, friend, and the Blessed One has said that a sick person cannot endure being questioned. Wait, friend, until this Bhikkhu has recovered; when he has recovered you may reprove him, if you like." If they speak to him thus,. . . . (&c., as in § 7).

9. 'If those Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, hold Pavâranâ, and a sick Bhikkhu inhibits the Pavâranâ of another sick Bhikkhu, let them say (to the inhibiting Bhikkhu): "You are sick, Sirs, and the "Blessed One has said that a sick person cannot endure being questioned. Wait, friend, until you have recovered; when he has recovered you may reprove him, if you like." If they speak to him thus, . . . . (&c., as in § 7).

10. 'If those Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, hold Pavâranâ, and a healthy Bhikkhu inhibits the Pavâranâ of another healthy Bhikkhu, let the Samgha question and examine them both and treat them according to the law, and then hold Pavâranâ.'