Mahavagga - Sixth Khandhaka: Chapter 5

1. Now at that time the Bhikkhus who were sick had need of leaves as medicine.
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of leaves as
p. 46
medicine--the leaves of the nimba 1, of the kutaga 1, of the patola 2, of the
tulasi 3, of the kappâsika 4, and whatsoever other leaves are used for medicine,
and impart an appetising flavour to foods, either hard or soft, which the sick
Bhikkhus could not otherwise eat. They may be received, and stored up (&c., as
in last chapter, down to:) guilty of a dukkata offence.'



Footnotes
45:1 Compare the Sanskrit root puth. Buddhaghosa says: Pisanasilâ ka pisana-poto
ka. Pestle and mortar is in Pâli udukkhalam musalañ ka: see below, VI, 9, 2.
45:2 Azadirachta Indica. Compare Mahâvagga III, 12, 5.
45:3 Wrightia anti-dysenterica. Wise, p. 142, gives the botanical name as
Echites anti-dysenterica, and says it is an emetic.
45:4 A kind of creeper, says Buddhaghosa.
45:5 Pongania Glabra (the same as Karañga, says Buddhaghosa).
46:1 See the last chapter for these plants.
46:2 A species of cucumber, Trichosanthes Dioeca.
46:3 That is, basil; but the reading is conjectural only. The text has sulasi.
46:4 This is ordinary cotton.