Mahavagga - Eighth Khandhaka: Chapter 21

1. Now the Bhikkhus thought: 'What is the limit for the size of a robe up to
which it ought to be handed over to another Bhikkhu 1?'
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, to hand over any robe which is in length eight inches
according to the accepted inch 2.'
Now at that time a robe belonging to the venerable Mahâ Kassapa, which had been
made of cast-off pieces of cloth became heavy (by reason of the weight of the
new pieces tacked on to it 3).
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to darn it roughly together with thread 4.'
It was uneven at the end 5.
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to remove the unevenness 6.'
p. 231
The threads frayed out 1.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to put a braiding or a binding along or round (the
edge) 2:
Now at that time the ribbons 3 of the under garment gave way 4.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to make an eight-footed . . . 5.'
2. Now at that time when a set of robes was being made for a certain Bhikkhu it
was impossible to make it entirely from torn pieces of cloth 6.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to have two of the robes made of torn pieces of cloth,
and one of cloth not torn.'
It was impossible to make two of the robes of torn pieces of cloth, and one of
cloth not torn.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to make two robes
p. 232
[paragraph continues] (out of the set) of untorn pieces, and one of torn
pieces.'
Even this was impossible.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to make (each robe out of the set) half (from torn
pieces) and half 1 (from untorn pieces). But a set of robes made entirely from
untorn pieces is not to be worn. Whosoever shall wear (a set of robes so made)
is guilty of a dukkata.'



Footnotes
230:1 See VIII, 13, 8, and our note on the 59th Pâkittiya.
230:2 See our note on this word in the 92nd Pâkittiya.
230:3 So explains the commentary, Khinna-tthâne aggalâropanena garuko hoti.
230:4 Suttalûkham kâtun ti sutten’ eva aggalam kâtun ti attho (B.). Compare
above, chapter 12. 2.
230:5 Vikanno ti suttam añkitvâ sibbantânam eko samghâti-kono digho hoti, says
Buddhaghosa. Vikannaka in the 233rd Gâtaka seems to mean 'harpoon.'
230:6 Vikannam uddharitun ti dîgha-konam khinditum (B.).
231:1 Okiratî (sic) ti khinna-konato galati (B.). Galati at VI, r3, 1, is 'ran
over,' whereas okiriyanti at the corresponding passages VI, 12, 1, 2, is 'were
spilt.' Probably the above rendering is the real meaning here, as the threads
could not be literally spilt or sprinkled.
231:2 On these difficult technical terms Buddhaghosa provokingly says, anuvâtam
paribhandam anuvâtañ k’ eva paribhandam. Childers, under the first, has merely
'with the wind,' and under the second, 'girdle.' The same expressions occur also
above, at VII, 1, 5, where Buddhaghosa, again only explains the words by the
words themselves.
231:3 We probably ought to read pattâ, not pattâ; but what is meant by the
ribbons of the samghâti is very doubtful. Buddhaghosa says nothing.
231:4 For luggati compare paluggati.
231:5 What this is is again uncertain, and Buddhaghosa gives no help.
231:6 See above, chapter 11, at the end.
232:1 Anvâdhikam, on which Buddhaghosa says nothing.