Chulavagga 5.3

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

CHULAVAGGA (THE MINOR SECTION)

FIFTH KHANDHAKA (ON THE DAILY LIFE OF THE BHIKKHUS)

Chapter-3.

1. Now at that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus used to sing the Dhamma with the abrupt transitions of song-singing.

The people murmured, were annoyed, and became indignant, saying, 'How can the Sakyaputtiya Samanas [do so]?' The Bhikkhus heard (&c., as usual, down to) he addressed the Bhikkhus, and said:

'These five dangers, O Bhikkhus, befall him who sings the Dhamma with the abrupt transitions of song-singing.--He himself becomes captivated with respect to the sound of that.--Other people become captivated with respect to the sound of that.--The laymen are shocked.--The meditation of one who strains after accuracy in the sound is broken.--The common people fall into heresy.--These five dangers, O Bhikkhus, befall him who sings the Dhamma with the abrupt transitions of song-singing. The Dhamma is not, O Bhikkhus, to be sung [in that manner]. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'

2. Now at that time the Bhikkhus were afraid to make use of intoning. They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to intone.'