Mahavogga 4.5

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

1. At that time five Bhikkhus dwelt in a certain district (or, in a certain residence of Bhikkhus) on the day of Pavâranâ.

Now these Bhikkhus thought: 'The Blessed One has prescribed the holding of Pavâranâ by the Samgha, and we are (only) five persons. Well, how are we to hold Pavâranâ?'

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

'I prescribe,O Bhikkhus, that five Bhikkhus should. hold Pavâranâ in a (regular) chapter.'

2. At that time four Bhikkhus dwelt in a certain district on the day of Pavâranâ. Now these Bhikkhus thought: 'The Blessed One has prescribed that five Bhikkhus shall hold Pavâranâ in a (regular) chapter, and we, are (only) four persons. Well, how are we to hold Pavâranâ?'

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that four Bhikkhus should hold Pavâranâ with each other.

3. 'And let them hold Pavâranâ, O Bhikkhus, in this way: Let a learned, competent Bhikkhu proclaim the following ñatti hefore those Bhikkhus:

"Hear me, Sirs. To-day is Pavâranâ day. If you are ready, Sirs, let us hold Pavâranâ with each other."

'Then let the senior Bhikkhu adjust his upper rohe, &c., and say to those Bhikkhus: "I pronounce my Pavâranâ, friends, hefore you, by what has heen seen, or by what has heen heard, or by what is suspected; may you speak to me, Sirs, out of compassion towards me; if I see (an offence), I will atone for it. And for the second time, &c.; and for the third time, &c."

'Then let each younger Bhikkhu, &c.'

4. At that time three Bhikkhus dwelt in a certain district on the day of Pavâranâ. Now these Bhikkhus thought: 'The Blessed One has prescrihed that five Bhikkhus shail hold Pavâranâ in a (regular) chapter, that four Bhikkhus shall hold Pavâranâ with each other, and we are (only) three persons. Well, how are we to hold Pavâranâ?'

'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that three Bhikkhus should hold Pavâranâ with each other. And let them hold Pavâranâ (&c., see §.3).'

5. At that time two Bhiklthus dwelt in a certain district on the day of Pavâranâ. Now these Bhikkhus thought: 'The Blessed One has prescrihed that five Bhikkhus, &c., that four Bhikkhus, &c., that three Bhikkhus, &c., and we are (only) two persons. Well, how are we to hold Pavâranâ?'

'I prescrihe, O Bhikkhus, that two Bhikkhus should hold Pavâranâ with each other.

6. 'And let them hold Pavâranâ, O Bhikkhus, in this way: Let the senior Bhikkhu adjust his upper rohe, &c., and say to the junior Bhikkhu: "I pronounce my Pavâranâ, friend, &c."

'Then let the junior Bhikkhu, &c.'

7. At that time there dwelt a single Bhikkhu in a certain district on the day of Pavâranâ. Now this Bhikkhu thought: 'The Blessed One has prescribed that five Bhikkhus, &c., &c., and I am only one person. Well, how am I to hold Pavâranâ?'

8. 'In case there dwell, O Bhikkhus, in a certain district on the day of Pavâranâ, a single Bhikkhu: Let that Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, sweep the place which the Bhikkhus use to frequent,--the refectory, or hall, or place at the foot of a tree; let him (then) provide water and food, prepare seats, put a lamp there, and sit down. If other Bhikkhus come, let him hold Pavâranâ with them; if they do not come, let him fix his mind upon the thought: "To-day is my Pavâranâ." If he does not fix his mind upon this thought, he commits a dukkata offence.

9. 'Now, O Bhikkhus, where five Bhikkhus dwell (together), they must not convey the Pavâranâ of one (to their assemhly) and hold Pavâranâ by four (as) in a (regular) chapter. If they do, they commit a dukkata offence.

'Now, O Bhikkhus, where four Bhikkhus dwell (together), they must not convey the Pavâranâ of one (to their assembly) and hold Pavâranâ with each other by three. If they do, they commit a dukkata offence.

'Now, O Bhikkhus, where three Bhikkhus (&c., as in the last clause).

'Now, O Bhikkhus, where two Bhikkhus dwen, one of them must not convey the Pavâranâ of the other one, and fix (only) his thoughts (upon the Pavâranâ). If he does, he commits a dukkata offence.'