Mahavogga 3.5

Tipitaka >> Vinaya Pitaka >> Khandhaka >> Mahavagga >> Third Khandaka >> 3.5

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

1. And the Blessed One, after having resided at Râgagaha as long as he thought fit, went forth to Sâvatthi. Wandering from place to place he came to Sâvatthi. There, at Sâvatthi, the Blessed One dwelt in the Getavana, the garden of Anâthapindika.

At that time an upâsaka (lay devotee) named Udena, in the Kosala country, had a Vihâra built for the Samgha. He sent a messenger to the Bhikkhus (saying), 'Might their reverences come hither; I desire to bestow gifts (on the Samgha) and to hear the Dhamma and to see the Bhikkhus.'

2. The Bhikkhus replied: 'The Blessed One has prescribed, friend, that no one who has entered upon Vassa, may go on a journey before he has kept Vassa during the earlier or during the later three months. Let the upâsaka Udena wait so long as the Bhikkhus keep their Vassa residence; when they have finished Vassa, they will go. But if there is any urgent necessity, let him dedicate the Vihâra in presence of the Bhikkhus who reside there.'

3. The upâsaka Udena was annoyed, murmured, and became angry (saying), 'How can their reverences, when I send for them, refuse to come? I am a giver and a doer (of good works), and do service to the fraternity.' Some Bhikkhus heard the upâsaka Udena, who was annoyed, &c.

These Bhikkhus told the thing to the Blessed One.

4. In consequence of that the Blessed One, after having delivered a religious discourse, thus addressed the Bhikkhus:

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to go (even during the rainy season), if the affair for which you go can be accomplished in seven days, and if you are sent for, but not if you are not sent for, by a person of one of the following seven classes: Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunîs, sikkharnânâs. sâmaneras, sâmanerîs, lay devotees, female lay devotees. I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to go, if the thing (you go for) can be accomplished in seven days, and if you are sent for, but not if you are not sent for, by a person of one of these seven classes. Within seven days you ought to return.

5. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, an upâsaka has built a Vihâra for the Samgha. If he sends a messenger to the Bhikkhus (saying), "Might their reverences come hither; I desire to bestow gifts (on them) and to hear the Dhamma and to see the Bhikkhus," you ought to go, O Bhikkhus, if the affair for which you go can be accomplished in seven days, and if he sends for you, but not if he does not send for you. Within seven days you ought to return.

6. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, an upâsaka has built for the Samgha an addhayoga. has built a storied house, has built an attic, has constructed a cave, a cell, a store-room, a refectory, a fire-room, a warehouse, a privy, a place to walk in, a house to walk in, a well, a well house, a gantâghara, a gantâghara room, a lotus-pond, a pavilion, a park, or has prepared the site for a park. If he sends a messenger to the Bhikkhus,. . . . (&c., as in § 5, down to the end of the section).

7. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, an upâsaka has built for a number of Bhikkhus an addhayoga. . . . (&c., as in § 6 to the end of the section),. . . . for one Bhikkhu a Vihâra, an addhayoga, a storied bouse. . . . (&c., as in § 6 to the end).

8. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, an upâsaka has built for the sisterhood of Bhikkhunîs, &c., for a number of Bhikkhunîs, for one Bhikkhunî, for a number of sikkhamânâs, for one sikkhamânâ, for a number of sâmaneras, for one sâmanera, for a number of sâmanerîs, for one sâmanerî a Vihâra, &c. If he sends a messenger to the Bhikkhus, &c.

9. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, an upâsaka has built for his own use a residence, a sleeping room, a stable, a tower, a one-peaked building, a shop, a boutique, a storied house, an attic, a cave, a cell, a store-room, a refectory, a fire-room, a kitchen, a privy, a place to waIk in, a house to walk in, a well, a well house, a gantâghara, a gantâghara room, a lotus-pond, a pavilion, a park, or has prepared the site for a park; or that his son is to choose a consort; or that his daughter is to choose a consort; or that he is sick; or that he knows how to recite a celebrated suttanta. If he sends a messenger to the Bhikkhus (saying), "Might their reverences come and learn this suttanta; otherwise this suttanta will fall into oblivion;"--or if he has any other business or any work to be done; and if he sends a messenger to the Bhikkhus (saying), "Might their reverences come hither" (&c.) then you ought to go (&c., as in § 5, down to:) you ought to return.

10-12. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, an upâsikâ has built a Vihâra for the Samgha (&c., as in §§ 5-9).

13. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu has built, &c., a Bhikkhunî, a sikkharnânâ, a sâmanera, a sâmanerî has built for the Samgha, for a number of Bhikkhus, for one Bhikkhu, for the sisterhood of Bhikkhunîs, for one sâmanerî, for his own use, a Vihâra (&c., as in § 8).'