Cullavagga - Fifth Khandhaka: Chapter 12

1. Now the Blessed One, when he had stayed at Râgagaha as long as he thought
fit, set out on his journey toward Vesâlî 3.
Now at that time the Bhikkhus went along, carrying their needles and scissors
and drugs in their bowls.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a bag to carry the drugs in 4.'
p. 99
They had no shoulder-strap.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a shoulder-strap 1, or of a string to tie
the bags on with.'
Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu tied his sandals on to his girdle, and then
entered the village for alms 2. A certain Upâsaka, when saluting that Bhikkhu,
knocked up against the sandals with his head. The Bhikkhu was annoyed; and when
he had returned to the Ârâma, he told this matter to the Bhikkhus. They told
this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a bag to carry your sandals in,'
They had no shoulder-strap.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a shoulder-strap, or of a string to tie the
bags on with.'



Footnotes
98:3 This is merely introduced to show that the following rules or privileges in
this and the next chapter (§§ 1, 2) were to be in force when the Bhikkhus were
on a journey.
98:4 Neither here nor in V, 11, 5 are we to understand that the needles and
scissors are to be carried in bags. They are mentioned in both passages merely
to show the inconvenience of having no separate receptacles for the thimbles and
the drugs.
99:1 See the note on V, 9, 4.
99:2 He would require the sandals only when he came, in his journey, to rough
places; not on the smooth, well-trodden, village paths.