Cullavagga - Fifth Khandhaka: Chapter 22

1. Now when the Blessed One had remained at Bhaggâ as long as he thought fit, he
set out on his journey towards Sâvatthi. And journeying straight on he arrived
in due course at Sâvatthi, and there, at Sâvatthi, he stayed in the Getavana, in
the Ârâma of Anâtha-pindika.
Now Visâkhâ the mother of Migâra, bringing small jars 2, and earthenware
foot-scrubbers 3, and brooms, went up to the place where the Blessed One was;
and when she had come there, she saluted the Blessed One, and took her seat on
one side. And so sitting, Visâkhâ the mother of Migâra said to the Blessed One,
'May the Blessed One accept these things at my hands, that that may be to me for
long for a blessing and a joy.' And the Blessed One accepted the small jars and
the brooms; but the Blessed One did not accept the earthenware foot-scrubbers.
p. 131
Then the Blessed One instructed (&c., as usual, see 21. 2, down to) she departed
thence. And the Blessed One, on that occasion and in that connection, after
having delivered a religious discourse, addressed the Bhikkhus, and said:
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, small jars and brooms. You are not, O Bhikkhus, to
make use of earthen-ware foot-scrubbers. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a
dukkata. I allow you, O Bhikkhus, three kinds of things to rub the feet with--to
wit, sandstone 1, gravel 1, and sea-foam 2.'
2. [A similar paragraph ending]
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of fans and flower-stands 3.'



Footnotes
130:2 Ghatakam. At Gâtaka I, 32 this word seems to mean the capital of a pillar.
We have taken it as the diminutive of ghata, especially as Buddhaghosa says
nothing; but this is doubtful.
130:3 Katakam. To the note quoted at p. 318 of the text, which shows that this
is a kind of foot-rubber, Buddhaghosa adds that this article is forbidden
bâhulikânuyogattâ. This injunction is repeated below at V, 37, where kataka is
mentioned as a kind of earthenware.
131:1 Sakkharâ and kathala, the exact distinction between which two terms is not
stated.
131:2 Samudda-phenaka. By this name are designated the bones of the cuttle-fish
which, when cast up by the waves on the sea-shore, are not unlike petrified
foam, and have actually been introduced from the East into use in Europe as a
kind of rough natural soap; and are now sold for that purpose in most chemists'
shops in England (compare Meerschaum). The same word is found in later Sanskrit
works.
131:3 Tâlavantam. See Jâtaka I, 26, 5 (at the end); and compare tâlavantakam
below, V, 29, 4.