Mahavagga - Eighth Khandhaka: Chapter 25

1. Now at that time the venerable Upananda of the Sakya race, having spent the
rainy season at Sâvatthi, went to take up his abode in a certain village. The
Bhikkhus in that place assembled together with the object of dividing the robes.
They said to him
'These robes, friend, which are the property of the Samgha, are about to be
divided. Will you accept a share of them?'
'Yes, friends, I will,' said he; and taking his share, departed thence and took
up his abode elsewhere.
[The same thing happened there, and] he departed thence and took up his abode
elsewhere.
[The same thing happened there, and so] he returned to Sâvatthi with a great
bundle of robes.
2. The Bhikkhus said to him: 'What a meritorious
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of the robes be assigned to Upananda of the Sakya race?'
They told the matter to the Blessed One.
'Give, O Bhikkhus, to that foolish one but one portion 1. In case, O Bhikkhus, a
Bhikkhu spend the rainy season alone in two residences, thinking thus to obtain
many robes, then, if he have spent exactly half the season in one place and half
in another, a half portion of the robes due to him shall be given to him in one
place, and a half in the other; but in whichever place of the two he have spent
a greater part of the rainy season, thence shall the portions of robes due to
him be given.'



Footnotes
238:1 There is a Sânavâsi who takes a prominent part at the Council of Vesâlî
(Kullavagga XII, 1, 8; XII, 2, 4). He is probably meant to be considered the
same as this one.
p. 239
person you are, friend Upananda. Plenty of robes have come into your
possession!'
'Where is my merit, friends?' said he, and [told them all that had happened] 1.
3. 'How then, friend Upananda, have you spent the rainy season in one place, and
accepted a share of robes in another place?'
'Yes, friends, that is so.'
Those Bhikkhus who were moderate were indignant, murmured, and became annoyed,
saying, 'How can the venerable Upananda spend the rainy season in one place, and
accept a share of robes in another place?'
They told the matter to the Blessed One.
'Is it true, Upananda, as they say, that you have spent the rainy season in one
place, and have accepted a share of robes in another place?'
'It is true, Lord.'
The Blessed Buddha rebuked him, saying, 'How can you, O foolish one, act so?
This will not redound to the conversion of the unconverted, or to the increase
of the converted!'
And after having rebuked him, and delivered a religious discourse, he addressed
the Bhikkhus, saying, 'Whosoever, O Bhikkhus, has spent the rainy season in one
place, is not to accept a share of the robes in another place. Whosoever does so
shall be guilty of a dukkata.'
4. Now at that time the venerable Upananda of the Sakya race spent the rainy
season alone in two residences, thinking thus to obtain many robes. And the
Bhikkhus thought: 'How should his portion
239:1 Section 1 repeated, with the necessary change of person, &c.