Mahavagga - Eighth Khandhaka: Chapter 27

1. Now at that time two Bhikkhus were journeying along a high road in the
country of Kosala. And they came to a certain residence, and there one of the
two fell ill. Then the Bhikkhus there thought: 'Waiting upon the sick has been
highly spoken of by the Blessed One. Let us then, friends, now wait upon this
Bhikkhu.' And they waited upon him, and while he was being nursed by them, he
completed his time 1. Then those Bhikkhus took that Bhikkhu's bowl and his
robes, and went to Sâvatthi, and told the matter to the Blessed One.
'On the death of a Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, the Samgha becomes the owner of his bowl
and of his robes. But, now, those who wait upon the sick are of much service. I
prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that the bowl and the set of robes are to be assigned by
the
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[paragraph continues] Samgha to them who have waited upon the sick. And thus, O
Bhikkhus, are they to be assigned. The Bhikkhu who has waited upon the sick
ought to go before the Samgha, and to say thus: "Such and such a Bhikkhu, Sirs,
has completed his time. These are his set of robes and his bowl." Then a
discreet and able Bhikkhu ought to lay the proposition before the Samgha,
saying, "Let the Samgha hear me. Such and such a Bhikkhu has completed his time.
These are his set of robes and his bowl. If it is convenient to the Samgha, let
the Samgha assign this set of robes and this bowl to those who have waited upon
the sick." This is the ñatti.' [Here follow the usual formal words of a
kammavâkâ 1.]
3. Now at that time a certain Sâmanera had completed his time.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
[The decision and the kammavâkâ are the same as in §2.]
4. Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu and a Sâmanera waited upon a sick Bhikkhu;
and while he was being waited upon by them he completed his time. And the
Bhikkhu who had waited upon the sick thought: 'How now ought the due portion of
robes be given to the Sâmanera who waited upon the sick?'
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that you are to give an equal portion to a Sâmanera
who waits upon the sick.'
5. Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu who was
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possessed of much property, and of a plentiful supply of a Bhikkhu's requisites,
completed his time.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'On the death of a Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, the Samgha becomes the owner of his bowl
and of his robes. But, now, those who wait upon the sick are of much service. I
prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that the set of robes and the bowl are to be assigned by
the Samgha to them who have waited upon the sick. And whatever little property
and small supply of a Bhikkhu's requisites there may be, that is to be divided
by the Samgha that are present there; but whatever large quantity of property
and large supply of a Bhikkhu's requisites there may be, that is not to be given
away 1 and not to be apportioned 2, but to belong to the Samgha of the four
directions 3, those who have come in, and those who have not 4.'



Footnotes
243:1 That is, he died.
244:1 There is only one, not three Kammavâkâs, given in the text.
245:1 See Kullavagga VI, 15, 2.
245:2 See Kullavagga VI, 16, 2.
245:3 That is, 'of all the world.'
245:4 This description of the totality of the Samgha is constantly found in
dedicatory inscriptions. See Rh. D.'s paper in the Indian Antiquary, May, 1872.