Mahavagga - Sixth Khandhaka: Chapter 1

SIXTH KHANDHAKA.
(ON MEDICAMENTS.)
1.
1. At that time the Blessed One dwelt at Sâvatthi, in the Getavana, the park of
Anâtha-pindika. And at that time Bhikkhus, attacked by the sickness of the hot
season 1, threw up the rice-milk they had drunk, and the food they had eaten.
And thereby they became lean, rough, ill-favoured, yellow and ever yellower, and
the veins stood out on their limbs 2.
And the Blessed One saw those Bhikkhus thus lean, rough, ill-favoured, yellow
and ever yellower, and with the veins standing out on their limbs. And on seeing
it, he asked the venerable Ânanda:
'How is it, Ânanda, that the Bhikkhus are become now so lean, rough, &c.?'
'At this time, Lord, the Bhikkhus are attacked with the disease of the hot
season; and they throw up the rice-milk they have drunk, and the food they have
eaten. Thence is it that they are become lean, rough, ill-favoured, yellow and
ever yellower, and that the veins stand out on their limbs.'
2. Then there occurred to the mind of the
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[paragraph continues] Blessed One, when meditating alone, this consideration:
'At this time the Bhikkhus (&c., down to:) on their limbs. What medicaments
shall I now prescribe for the Bhikkhus, as may be authorised as common medicine,
and may be diffused through the body, though it be not regarded as ordinary
(material) food?' And the Blessed One thought: 'These five medicaments--that is
to say, ghee, butter, oil, honey, molasses--are such medicaments. Let me then
prescribe them as medicines which the Bhikkhus may accept at the right time, and
use at the right time.'
3. And in the evening, when the Blessed One had arisen from his meditation,
having delivered a religious discourse, he addressed the Bhikkhus in that
connection, saying,
'When I was meditating alone, O Bhikkhus, then occurred to my mind this
consideration: "At this time (&c., as in § 2, down to:) material food." Then I
thought: "These five (&c., as in § 2, down to:) at the right time." I prescribe,
O Bhikkhus, these five things as medicine to be accepted at the right time, and
to be used at the right time.'
4. Now at that time the Bhikkhus accepted those five things at the right time,
and used them at the right time. And foods which though rough, were ordinary
foods, they could not digest 1, much less greasy foods 2. Then they--attacked
both by the hot-season disease, and by this want of appetite 3--became by both
at once still more lean, rough,
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ill-favoured, yellow and ever yellower, and with the veins standing out on their
limbs.
And the 'Blessed One saw the Bhikkhus thus still more lean, &c. And when he saw
it, he asked the venerable Ânanda: 'How is it, Ânanda, that the Bhikkhus are
become now still more lean, &c.?'
5. 'At present, Lord, these Bhikkhus, who use the five medicaments only at the
right time, cannot digest foods which, though ordinary, are rough, much less
greasy foods. Then they, attacked (&c., as in § 4, down to:) standing out on
their limbs.'
Then the Blessed One on that occasion, having delivered a religious discourse,
addressed the Bhikkhus, and said: 'I permit you, O Bhikkhus, not only to receive
those five medicaments, but to use them both at the right time, and at other
times.'



Footnotes
41:1 Sâradikena âbâdhenâ ’ti sarada-kâle uppannena pittâbâdhena. Tasmim hi kâle
vassodakena pi tementi, kaddamam pi maddanti, antarantarâ âtapo pi kharo hoti.
Tena tesam pittam kotthabbhantara-gatam hoti (B.).
41:2 Read in the text Dhamani-santata-gattâ; and compare Lalita Vistara, p. 226,
and Professor Weber's 'Bhagavatî,' II, 289.
42:1 Na kkhâdenti na gîranti, na vâtarogam patipassambhetum sakkonti (B.).
42:2 Senesikâni siniddhâni (B.). Compare Sanskrit snaihika.
42:3 Bhattâkkhandakenâ ’ti bhattam arokakena (B.).