Chulavagga 4.4

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

CHULAVAGGA (THE MINOR SECTION)

FOURTH KHANDHAKA (THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES AMONG THE FRATERNITY)

Chapter-4.

1. Now at that time the Great Buddha was staying at Rajagaha, in the Kalandaka Nivapa, in the Bamboo Grove.

Now at that time the venerable Dabba the Mallian, who had realised Arahatship when he was seven years old, had entered into possession of every (spiritual gift) which can be acquired by a disciple; there was nothing left that he ought still to do, nothing left that he ought to gather up of the fruit of his past labour. And when the venerable Dabba the Mallian had retired into solitude, and was sunk in thought, the following consideration presented itself to his mind: 'Arahatship had I

acquired when I was seven years old. I have gained everything that a learner can reach to. There is nothing further left for me to do, nothing to gather up of the fruit of that which I have done. What service is it possible for me to render to the Sangha?' And it occurred to the venerable Dabba the Mallian: 'It would be a good thing for me to regulate the lodging-places for the Sangha, and to apportion the rations of food.'

2. And when, at evening, the venerable Dabba the Mallian had arisen from his meditations, he went to the place where the Lord Buddha was; and when he had come there he saluted the Lord Buddha, and took his seat on one side; and when he was so seated the venerable Dabba the Mallian spoke thus to the Lord Buddha:

'When I had retired, Lord, into solitude and was sunk in thought, the following consideration presented itself to my mind (&c., as before, down to) It would be a good thing for me to regulate the lodging-places for the Sangha, and to apportion the rations of food. I desire, Lord, [so to do].'

'Very good, Dabba. Do you then regulate the lodging-places for the Sangha, and apportion the rations of food!'

'It is well, Lord,' said the venerable Dabba the Mallian, accepting the word of the Lord Buddha.

3. And the Lord Buddha on that occasion and in that connection, when he had delivered a dhamma discourse, addressed the Bhikkhus(Monks), and said:

'Let then the Sangha, O Bhikkhus, appoint Dabba the Mallian as the regulator of lodging-places, and as the apportioner of rations. And thus, O Bhikkhus, should the appointment be made.

'First Dabba should be asked (whether he is willing to undertake the office). When he has been asked, some able and discreet Bhikkhu should lay the resolution before the Sangha, saying,

'"Let the venerable Sangha hear me.

'"If it be convenient to the Sangha, let the Sangha appoint Dabba the Mallian as regulator of lodging-places, and as apportioner of rations. '"This is the resolution (natti).

'"Let the venerable Sangha hear me.

'"The Sangha appoints the venerable Dabba the Mallian as regulator of lodging-places, and as apportioner of rations. Whosoever of the venerable ones agrees that Dabba should be so appointed, let him remain silent; whosoever does not agree, let him speak. The venerable Dabba is appointed by the Sangha as regulator of the lodging-places, and as apportioner of rations. The Sangha approves of that. Therefore is it silent. Thus do I understand."'

4. And the venerable Dabba the Mallian, being so chosen, appointed one lodging-place in the same place for the Bhikkhus who belonged to the same division. For those Bhikkhus who were repeaters of the Suttantas he appointed a lodging-place together, thinking, 'They will be able to chant over the Suttantas to one another.' For those Bhikkhus who were in charge of the Vinaya he appointed a lodging-place together, thinking, 'They will be able to discuss the Vinaya one with another.' For those Bhikkhus who were preachers of the Dhamma he appointed a lodging-place together, thinking, 'They will be able to talk over the Dhamma one with another.' For those Bhikkhus who were given to meditation he appointed one lodging-place together, thinking, 'They will not disturb one another.' For those Bhikkhus who were wise in worldly lore, and abounding in bodily vigour, he appointed one lodging-place together, thinking, 'These venerable ones, too, will thus remain settled according to their pleasure.' And for such Bhikkhus as came in late, for them he caught fire, and by the light of the flame of that he pointed out to them a lodging-place.

So much so that Bhikkhus of set purpose would come in late, thinking, 'We shall thus behold the power of the Iddhi(spiritual power) of the venerable Dabba the Mallian.' And they went up to the venerable Dabba the Mallian, and said: 'Appoint us, O venerable Dabba, a lodging-place.'

And to them the venerable Dabba the Mallian would speak thus: 'Where do the venerable ones desire to rest? Where shall I appoint it?'

And they of set purpose would designate some place afar, saying, 'May the venerable Dabba appoint us a lodging-place on the Vulture's Peak; may the venerable one appoint us a lodging-place at the Robber's Cliff; may the venerable one appoint us a lodging-place at the Black Rock on the Isigili Passa; may the venerable one appoint us a lodging on the Vebhara Passa; may the venerable one appoint us a lodging-place in the Sattapanni Cave; may the

venerable one appoint us a lodging-place in the mountain cave of the Snake's Pool in Sita's Wood; may the venerable one appoint us a lodging-place in the Gomata Grotto; may the venerable one appoint us a lodging-place in the cave of the Tinduka Tree; may the venerable one appoint us a lodging-place at the Tapoda Ghat; may the venerable one appoint us a lodging-place in the Tapoda Arama; may the venerable one appoint us a lodging-place in Jivaka's Mango Grove; may the venerable one appoint us a lodging-place in the deer-park at Maddakukkhi.'

And the venerable Dabba the Mallian would burst into flame, and walk on in front of them with his finger burning, and they by the light of that would follow close upon the venerable Dabba the Mallian. And the venerable Dabba the Mallian would appoint them a lodging-place, saying, 'This is the couch, and this the stool, and this the mat, and this the pillow, and this the privy place, and this the drinking-water, and this the water for washing, and this the staff, and this the form of (the result of) the consultation of the Sangha, that at such and such a time are you to enter on that, and at such and such a time are you to depart from there.' And when the

venerable Dabba the Mallian had thus appointed unto them their lodging-place, he would return back again to the Bamboo Grove.

5. Now at that time the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka had been but recently received into the Sangha, and were wanting in merit, and such among the lodging-places appertaining to the Sangha as were inferior fell to their lot, and the inferior rations.

Now at that time the people of Rajagaha were desirous of presenting to the Thera Bhikkhus a wishing-gift, to wit, ghee(clarified butter) and oil and dainty bits; while to the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka they used to give an ordinary gift according to their ability, to wit, scraps of food and sour gruel with it.

When they had returned from their receipt of alms, and had eaten their meal, they asked the Thera Bhikkhus, 'What did you get, Sirs, at the place of alms; what did you get?'

Some of the Theras answered, Sirs; 'We had ghee(clarified butter), we had oil, we had dainty bits.'

The Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka replied: 'We got nothing at all, Sirs; just an ordinary gift such as they could manage, scraps of food, and sour gruel with it.'

6. Now at that time a certain householder, possessed of good food, used to give a perpetual alms to the Sangha, a meal for four Bhikkhus. He with his wife and children used to stand at the place of alms and serve; and offer to some Bhikkhus boiled rice, and to some congey, and to some oil, and to some dainty bits.

Now at that time the meal for the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka had been fixed for the morrow at the house of this prosperous

householder. 'And the prosperous householder went to the Arama(Monastery) for some business or other, and went up to the place where the venerable Dabba the Mallian was. And when he had come there, he saluted the venerable Dabba the Mallian, and took his seat on one side. And him so seated did the venerable Dabba instruct, and rouse, and gladden, and encourage with dhamma discourse.

And when the prosperous householder had thus been instructed, and roused, and gladdened, and encouraged by the venerable Dabba the Mallian with

dhamma discourse, he said to the venerable Dabba the Mallian: 'For whom, Sir, has the meal been appointed to-morrow at our house?'

'The meal has been appointed, my friend, at your house to-morrow for those Bhikkhus who are followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka.'

Then the prosperous householder was ill-pleased, thinking, 'How can bad Bhikkhus enjoy themselves at our house?' And going home he gave command to the slave-girl: 'For those who come to-morrow for the meal, spread out the mats in the entrance hall, and serve them with scraps of food,, and with sour gruel with it!'

'Even so, Sir!' said the slave-girl, accepting the word of the householder.

7. Then the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka spoke one to another: 'Yesterday a meal has been appointed for us at the house of the prosperous householder. To-morrow he, with his wife and children, will attend upon us at the place of alms, and serve us. And he will offer to some of us boiled rice, and to some congey, and to some oil, and to some dainty bits. And through joy thereat they slept uneasily that night.

Then the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka, having robed themselves in the early morning, went duly bowled and robed to the dwelling-place of the prosperous householder. And that slave-girl saw the Bhikkhus who were followers

of Mettiya and Bhummagaka approaching from afar; and spreading out the mats in the entrance hall, she said to them, 'Be seated, Sirs.'

And the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka thought: 'For a certainty the meal cannot yet be ready, since we are told to take our seats in the entrance.'

Then the slave-girl coming up with scraps of food, and sour gruel with it, said to them, 'Eat, Sirs!'

'We, sister, are of those for whom perpetual meals are provided.'

'I know, Sirs, that you are so. But only yesterday I received command from the householder that for them who should come to-morrow for the meal I was to spread out the mats in the entrance hall, and serve them with scraps of food, and some gruel with it. Eat, Sirs!'

Then the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka thought: 'It was yesterday that the householder, the prosperous one, came to the Arama to visit Dabba the Mallian. For a certainty the householder must have been set against us by Dabba the Mallian.' And through sorrow thereat they ate uneasily. And the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka, when they had finished their meal, returned from the receipt of alms, went to the Arama, and laid aside their bowls and their robes, and sat down outside the porch of the Arama, squatting against their waist cloths,

silent, and ashamed, with fallen hearts, and sunken faces, moody, and bewildered.

8. Now the Bhikkhuni(Nun) Mettiya came up to the place where the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka were: and when she had come there she said to them: 'My salutation to you, Sirs!'

When she had so said the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka did not speak to her. So a second time she said to them: 'My salutation to you, Sirs!' and they did not speak. And a third time she said to them: 'My salutation to you, Sirs!' Still the third time the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka did not speak. And she said: 'How have I offended you, Sirs? Why you do not speak to me?'

'Are you then so indifferent, sister, when we are tormented by Dabba the Mallian?'

'But what can I do, Sirs?'

'If you like, sister, you could this very day make the Lord Buddha expel the venerable Dabba the Mallian.'

'But what shall I do, Sirs? What is it that it is in my power to do?'

'Come now, sister; do you go to the place where the Lord Buddha is, and when you have come there say as follows: "This, Lord, is neither fit nor proper that the very quarter of the heavens which should be safe, secure, and free from danger, that from that very quarter should come danger, calamity, and distress--that where one might expect a calm, one should meet a gale. Methinks the very water has taken fire. I have been defiled, Lord, by Dabba the Mallian!'

'Very well, Sirs!' said the Bhikkhuni Mettiya, accepting the word of the followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka. And she went to the Lord Buddha [and spoke even as she had been directed].

9. Then the Lord Buddha, on that occasion and in that connection, convened a meeting of the Sangha, and asked the venerable Dabba the Mallian:

'Are you conscious, Dabba, of having done such a thing as this Bhikkhuni(Nun) says?'

'Even as my Lord, the Lord Buddha, knows me.' [And a second and a third time the Lord Buddha asked the same question, and received the same reply.]

Then said the Lord Buddha: 'The Dabbas, O Dabba, do not thus repudiate. If you have done it, say so. If you have not done it, say you have not.'

'Since I was born, Lord, I cannot call to mind that I have practised sexual intercourse even in a dream, much less when I was awake!'

And the Lord Buddha addressed the Bhikkhus, and said: 'Expel then, O Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhuni Mettiya, and examine those Bhikkhus about it.' And so saying he rose from his seat and entered into the Vihara(monastery).

Then those Bhikkhus expelled the Bhikkhuni Mettiya. But the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka said to those Bhikkhus: 'Do not, Sirs, expel the Bhikkhuni Mettiya. She has not committed any offence. She has been set on by us with angry and bitter intentions of causing his fall.'

'What then, Sirs? is it you who are thus harassing the venerable Dabba the Mallian with a groundless charge and breach of morality?'

'That is true, Sirs.'

Then those Bhikkhus who were moderate were indignant and annoyed and complained, saying, 'How can these Bhikkhus the followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka harass the venerable Dabba the Mallian with a groundless charge of breach of

morality?' And they told the matter to the Lord Buddha.

'Is this true, O Bhikkhus?'

'It is true, Lord.'

Then he rebuked them, and when he had delivered a dhamma discourse, he addressed the Bhikkhus, and said:

Let then the Sangha grant to Dabba the Mallian, whose conscience in respect of this matter is quite clear, the Proceeding for the consciously innocent.

10. 'And thus, O Bhikkhus, is it to be granted.

'Let that Dabba the Mallian go before the Sangha, and having arranged his robe over one shoulder, let him bow down at the feet of the senior Bhikkhus(Monks); and crouching down, let him stretch

forth his hands with the palms joined together, and let him say, "These Bhikkhus, Sirs, the followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka, are harassing me by a groundless charge of breach of morality. But I, Sirs, in respect of that have a clear conscience, and I ask the Sangha for the acquittal to be accorded to those who are conscious of innocence." Then some able and discreet Bhikkhu(Monk) is thus to lay the resolution (natti) before the Sangha. "Let the venerable Sangha hear me. These Bhikkhus, Sirs, the followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka, are harassing the venerable Dabba the Mallian with a groundless charge of a breach of morality, and the venerable Dabba the Mallian has in respect of that a conscience that is clear, and asks the Sangha for the acquittal of those who are conscious of innocence. If the time is convenient to the Sangha, let the Sangha accord to the venerable Dabba the Mallian the acquittal of those who are conscious of innocence. This is the resolution. Let the venerable Sangha hear me. These Bhikkhus (&c., as before, down to) asks the Sangha for the acquittal of those who are conscious of innocence. The Sangha accords to the venerable Dabba the Mallian the acquittal of those who are consciously innocent. Whosoever of the venerable ones approves of the grant to Dabba the Mallian of the acquittal of those who are conscious of innocence, let him keep silence, Whosoever approves not of that, let him speak. And a second time I say the same thing. And a third time I say the same thing. Let the venerable Sangha hear me. These Bhikkhus (&c., as before, down to) let him speak. The acquittal of those who are conscious of innocence has been

granted by the Sangha to Dabba the Mallian. The Sangha approves of that. Therefore is it silent. Thus do I understand."'

11. 'There are five things which make a grant of acquittal to those who are conscious of innocence to be according to law. The Bhikkhu must be innocent and without offence, others must have criticized him, he must ask the Sangha for acquittal as being conscious of innocence, the Sangha must grant it, the Sangha must be duly held and duly constituted. These, O Bhikkhus, are the five things which make a grant of the acquittal of those who are conscious of innocence to be according to law.'