1. Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu kept Vassa 2 alone. The people then gave
him robes, saying, 'We give them to the Samgha.'
Then that Bhikkhu thought: 'It has been laid down by the Blessed One that the
lowest number which can constitute a Samgha is four 3. Now I am by myself, and
these people have given the robes, saying, "We give them to the Samgha." I had
better take these robes, which are the property of a Samgha, to Sâvatthi.'
So that Bhikkhu did so, and told the matter to the Blessed One.
'These robes are your own, O Bhikkhu, until the Kathina ceremony shall have been
performed 4.'
2. 'Now in case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu keep Vassa alone, and the people of the
place give
p. 236
him robes, intending them for the Samgha,--I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that those
robes shall be his until the Kathina ceremony shall have been performed.'
3. Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu spent the rest of the year (besides the
rainy season) 1 alone. The people there (&c., as before, in the first paragraph
of 24. 1, down to the end).
So that Bhikkhu did so, and told the matter to the Bhikkhus. They told the
matter to the Blessed One.
'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that you are to divide such robes with the Samgha
(whether large or small in number) that may be present there.
4. 'Now in case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu spend the rest of the year (besides the
rainy season) alone, if and the people of the place give him robes, intending
them for the Samgha,--I allow, O Bhikkhus, that that Bhikkhu should appropriate
those robes to himself 2, saying, "These robes are for me." If another Bhikkhu
should arrive before those robes have been appropriated to that Bhikkhu, an
equal share is to be given (to the in-coming Bhikkhu). If while the robes are
being divided by those Bhikkhus, and before the lot has been cast, another
Bhikkhu should arrive, an equal share is to be given to him. If while the robes
are being divided by those Bhikkhus, and after the lot has been cast, another
Bhikkhu
p. 237
should arrive, an equal share need not, if they do not wish it 1, be given to
him.'
5. Now at that time two Theras, who were brothers, the venerable Isidâsa and the
venerable Isibhatta, having spent the rainy season in Sâvatthi, went to take up
their abode in a certain village. The people there, thinking, 'It is long since
these Theras have arrived here,' made gifts of both food and robes.
The Bhikkhus who resided there asked the Theras, saying, 'These robes, Sirs,
which are the property of the Samgha, have come to us through the Theras'
arrival 2. Will the Theras accept a share?'
The Theras answered: 'As we understand the rule laid down by the Blessed One,
these robes belong to you alone until the K a Mina ceremony shall have been
performed 3.'
6. Now at that time three Bhikkhus spent the rainy season at Râgagaha. The
people there made gifts of robes, saying, 'We give them to the Samgha.'
Then those Bhikkhus thought thus: 'It has been laid down by the Blessed One that
the smallest Samgha shall consist of four persons, and we are only three, and
these people have made gifts of robes, intending to give them to the Samgha.
What now ought we to do with them?'
Now at that time there were staying in Pâtaliputta,
p. 238
at the kukkutârâma, a number of Theras--the venerable Nilavâsi, and the
venerable Sânavâsi 1, and the venerable Gopaka, and the venerable Bhagu, and the
venerable Phalika-sandâna. And those Bhikkhus went to Pâtaliputta, and asked the
Theras what they should do.
The Theras answered: 'As we understand the rule laid down by the Blessed One,
these robes belong to you alone until the Kathina ceremony shall have been
performed.'
Footnotes
235:2 That is, spent the rainy season.
235:3 This is laid down in Mahâvagga IX, 4, I.
235:4 And thereby the Kathina license suspended. Compare the 1st, and, and 3rd
Nissaggiyas, and our note on p. 18.
236:1 Buddhaghosa says, Utukâlan ti vassânato aññam kâlam, where vassâna means
the rainy season. See Abhidhânappadîpikâ, verse 79.
236:2 On this sense of adhitthâtum, see above, Mahâvagga VIII, 20, 2.
237:1 Akâmâ; on which compare II, 27, 15, and especially II, 34, 3, and IV, 17,
6.
237:2 Âgamma, which is here nearly the same as uddissa. To give the full import
of the expression it would be necessary to say, have come to us in consequence
of the inducement offered to the givers by the presence of the Theras here.'
237:3 See our note above on § 1.
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