Mahavagga - Sixth Khandhaka: Chapter 18

1. Now at that time a certain Brâhman had received some fresh tila seeds, and
some fresh honey. Now it occurred to that Brâhman: 'What if I were to give these
fresh tila seeds, and this
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fresh honey to the Bhikkhu-samgha with the Buddha at their head.' And that
Brâhman went to the place where the Blessed One was, and when he had come there,
he exchanged courteous greetings with the Blessed One. And after he had
exchanged with the Blessed One the greetings and compliments of friendship and
civility, he stood on one side. And, so standing, that Brâhman said to the
Blessed One:
'May the venerable Gotama grant me that the venerable Gotama shall take his
morrow's meal at my home to-morrow with the Bhikkhu-samgha.'
The Blessed One consented by remaining silent. And when that Brâhman perceived
that the Blessed One had consented he. went away.
2. And that Brâhman, at the end of that night, when he had made ready sweet
food, both hard and soft, had the time announced to the Blessed One (in the
words), 'It is time, O Gotama, and the meal is prepared.'
And the Blessed One, early in the morning, having put on his under robe, went
duly bowled and robed to that Brâhman's residence. And when he had come there,
he sat down on a seat prepared for him, and with him the Bhikkhu-samgha.
And that Brâhman satisfied with the sweet food, hard and soft, the
Bhikkhu-samgha with the Buddha at their head, and waited on them with his own
hand. And when the Blessed One had finished his meal, and had washed his hands
and his howl, the Brâhman took his seat on one side. And as he so sat the
Blessed One instructed, and roused, and incited, and gladdened that Brâhman with
religious discourse, and rose from his seat, and went away.
3. Now not long after the Blessed One had gone
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it occurred to that Brâhman: 'The things for the sake of which I invited the
Bhikkhu-samgha with the Buddha at their head, thinking, "I will give them the
fresh tila seeds and the fresh honey,"--those I have neglected to give. What if
I were now to have the fresh tila seeds and the fresh honey taken, in pots and
vessels, to the Ârâma!'
And that Brâhman had the fresh tila seeds and the fresh honey taken in pots and
vessels, and went to the place where the Blessed One was. 'And when he had come
there, he stood on one side; and so standing that Brâhman said to the Blessed
One:
4. 'The things for the sake of which I invited the Bhikkhu-samgha with the
Buddha at their head, thinking, "I will give them the fresh tila seeds and the
fresh honey,"--those I have neglected to give. May the venerable Gotama receive
of me the fresh tila seeds and the fresh honey.'
'Very well then, Brâhman; give them to the Bhikkhus.'
Now at that time, during the scarcity, people invited Bhikkhus to a slender
meal, and they, counting the number (of those invited), refused (the
invitation). And the whole Samgha was (once) invited; but the Bhikkhus, fearing
to offend, did not accept the invitation 1.
'Accept it, O Bhikkhus, and eat. I allow, O Bhikkhus, that a Bhikkhu who has
eaten and who has refused food still offered may nevertheless eat food, if it be
brought from within, even if it has not been left over 2.



Footnotes
74:1 Compare Pâtimokkha, Pâkittiya 32.
74:2 This is an exception to Pâkittiya 35. A Bhikkhu who has p. 75 finished, and
has declared himself to have done so by declining further food, can still take
'leavings' without offending. By this rule he is also allowed to take food tato
nîhatam, literally, 'brought out thence,' which seems to mean 'out of the store
of the giver.' The expression recurs in VI, 32, I, and again in VI, 32, 2 (at
the end), where the exceptions to Pâkittiya 35 laid down in this and the
following rules are again, the scarcity having passed away, put aside by 'the
Blessed One.'