1. And the Blessed One, having dwelt at Pârileyyaka as long as he thought fit,
went forth to Sâvatthi. Wandering from place to place he came to Sâvatthi. There
the Blessed One dwelt at Sâvatthi, in the Getavana, the garden of
Anâtha-pindika. And the lay-devotees of Kosambî thought: 'These venerable
Bhikkhus of Kosambî have brought much misfortune to us; worried 1 by them the
Blessed One is gone. Well, let us neither salute the venerable Bhikkhus of
Kosambî, nor rise from our seats before them, nor raise our hands before them,
nor perform the proper duties towards them, nor honour and esteem and revere and
sup-port them, nor give them food when they come on their walks for alms; thus,
when they are not honoured, esteemed, revered, supported, and hospitably
received by us, they will go away, or return to the world, or propitiate the
Blessed One.'
2. Thus the lay-devotees of Kosambî did not salute any more the Bhikkhus of
Kosambî, nor did they rise from their seats before. them (&c., down to:) nor
gave them food when they came on their walks for alms.
Then the Bhikkhus of Kosambî, when they were no more honoured (&c., down to:)
and hospitably
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received by the lay-devotees of Kosambî, said to each other: 'Well, friends, let
us go to Sâvatthi and let us settle there that question before the Blessed One.'
And the Bhikkhus of Kosambî put their resting-places in order, took up their
alms-bowls and their robes, and went forth to Sâvatthi.
3. And the venerable Sâriputta heard: Those litigious, contentious, quarrelsome,
disputatious Bhikkhus of Kosambî, the constant raisers of questions before the
Samgha, are coming to Sâvatthi.' And the venerable Sâriputta went to the place
where the Blessed One was; having approached him and respectfully saluted the
Blessed One, he sat down near him. Sitting near him the venerable Sâriputta said
to the Blessed One: 'Lord, those litigious, contentious (&c., down to:) are
coming to Sâvatthi. How am I to behave, Lord, towards those Bhikkhus?'
'Well, Sâriputta, you must side with those who are right according to the
Dhamma.'
'But how shall I discern, Lord, what is right and what is wrong?'
4. 'There are eighteen things, Sâriputta, by which you may conclude that a
Bhikkhu is wrong according to the Dhamma. In case, Sâriputta, a Bhikkhu declares
what is not Dhamma to be Dhamma, or declares what is Dhamma not to be Dhamma, or
declares what is not Vinaya to be Vinaya, or declares what is Vinaya not to be
Vinaya, or declares what has not been taught and spoken by the Tathâgata to have
been taught and spoken by the Tathâgata, or declares something taught and spoken
by the Tathâgata not to have been taught and spoken by the Tathâgata, or
declares what has not been
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practised by the Tathâgata to have been practised by the Tathâgata, or declares
something practised by the Tathâgata not to have been practised by the
Tathâgata, or declares what has not been ordained by the Tathâgata to have been
ordained by the Tathâgata, or declares something ordained by the Tathâgata not
to have been ordained by the Tathâgata, or declares what is no offence to be an
offence, or declares an offence to be no offence, or declares a slight offence
to be a grievous offence, or declares a grievous offence to be a slight offence,
or declares (a rule regarding) an offence to which there is an exception to be
without an exception, or declares (a rule regarding) an offence to which there
is no exception to admit of exceptions 1, or declares a grave offence 2 to be a
not grave offence, or declares an offence that is not grave to be a grave
offence,--these are the eighteen things, Sâriputta, by which you may conclude
that a Bhikkhu is wrong according to the Dhamma.
5. 'And there are eighteen things, Sâriputta, by which you may conclude that a
Bhikkhu is right according to the Dhamma. In case, Sâriputta, a Bhikkhu declares
what is not Dhamma to be not
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[paragraph continues] Dhamma, or declares what is Dhamma to be Dhamma (&c., down
to:), or declares a grave offence to be a grave offence, or declares an offence
that is not grave to be not grave,--these are the eighteen things, Sâriputta, by
which you may conclude that a Bhikkhu is right according to the Dhamma.'
6. And the venerable Mahâmoggallâna heard (&c., as in § 3--5)--and the venerable
Mahâkassapa heard, &c.--and the venerable Mahâkakkâna heard, &c.--and the
venerable Mahâkotthita 1 heard, &c.--and the venerable Mahâkappina heard,
&c.--and the venerable Mahâkunda heard, &c.--and the venerable Anuruddha heard,
&c.--and the venerable Revata heard, &c.--and the venerable Upâli heard,
&c.--and the venerable Ânanda heard, &c.--and the venerable Râhula heard (&c.,
as above).
7. And Mahâpagâpati Gotamî heard: 'Those litigious, contentious, quarrelsome,
disputatious Bhikkhus of Kosambî, the constant raisers of questions before the
Samgha, are coming to Sâvatthi.' And Mahâpagâpati Gotamî went to the place where
the Blessed One was; having approached him and respectfully saluted the Blessed
One, she stationed herself near him. Standing near him Mahâpagâpati Gotamî said
to the Blessed One: 'Lord, those litigious, contentious (&c., down to:) are
coming to Sâvatthi. How am I to behave, Lord, towards those Bhikkhus?'
'Well, Gotamî, hear the Dhamma on both sides. When you have heard the Dhamma on
both sides,
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then accept the opinion and the belief and the doctrine and the cause of those
Bhikkhus who are right according to the Dhamma; and whatever the Bhikkhunîsamgha
has to apply for to the Bhikkhusamgha 1, for all that you must apply to the
party of those who are right.'
8. And Anâtha-pindika the householder heard (&c., as in 3, down to:). 'How am I
to behave, Lord, towards those Bhikkhus?'
'Well, householder, bestow gifts on both sides; having bestowed gifts on both
sides, hear the Dhamma on both sides. When you have heard the Dhamma on both
sides, then accept the opinion and the belief and the doctrine and the cause of
those Bhikkhus who are right according to the Dhamma.'
9. And Visâkhâ Migâramâtâ heard, &c. 2
10. And the Bhikkhus of Kosambî in due course came to Sâvatthi. And the
venerable Sâriputta went to the place where the Blessed One was; having
approached him and respectfully saluted the Blessed One, he sat down near him.
Sitting near him the venerable Sâriputta said to the Blessed One: 'Lord, those
litigious, contentious, quarrelsome, disputatious Bhikkhus of Kosambî, the
constant raisers of questions before the Samgha, have arrived at Sâvatthi. How
are we, Lord, to arrange the dwelling-places of those Bhikkhus?'
'Well, Sâriputta, assign separate dwelling-places to them.'
p. 319
'And if there be no separate dwelling-places, what are we to do then, Lord?'
'Then, Sâriputta, you must separate (some dwelling-places from the rest) and
then assign them (to those Bhikkhus). But in no wise, Sâriputta, do I say that
the dwelling-place of a senior Bhikkhu must be taken from him. He who does that,
commits a dukkata offence.'
'And how are we to act, Lord, regarding (the distribution of) material gifts 1?'
'Material gifts, Sâriputta, must be distributed among all in equal parts.'
11. And that Bhikkhu against whom expulsion had been pronounced, pondering over
both Dhamma and Vinaya, came to the following conclusion: 'This is an offence;
this is not no offence. I am an offender; I am not offenceless. I am expelled; I
am not un-expelled. The sentence by which I have been expelled is lawful,
unobjectionable, and valid.' Then that expelled Bhikkhu went to the expelled
Bhikkhu's partisans; having approached them, he said to the partisans of the
expelled Bhikkhu: 'This is an offence, friends; this is not no offence, &c. Come
now, my venerable brethren, and restore me.'
12. Then the partisans of that expelled Bhikkhu took with them the expelled
Bhikkhu, and went to the place where the Blessed One was; having approached him
and respectfully saluted the Blessed One, they sat down near him. Sitting near
him those Bhikkhus said to the Blessed One: 'Lord, this Bhikkhu, against whom
expulsion has been pronounced, says, "This is an offence, friends (&c.,
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down to:) and restore me." What are we to do here, Lord?'
This is an offence, O Bhikkhus; this is not no offence. This Bhikkhu is an
offender; this Bhikkhu is not offenceless. This Bhikkhu is expelled; he is not
unexpelled; the sentence by which he has been expelled is lawful,
unobjectionable, and valid. But since this Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, having committed
an offence, and having been sentenced to expulsion, sees (his offence), restore
now that Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus.'
13. And the partisans of that expelled Bhikkhu, having restored that expelled
Bhikkhu, went to the Bhikkhus who had sentenced him to expulsion; having
approached them, they said to the Bhikkhus who had pronounced that sentence: 'As
regards that matter, friends, which gave origin to altercations among the
Samgha, to contentions, discord, quarrels, divisions among the Samgha, to
disunion among the Samgha, to separations among the Samgha, to schisms among the
Samgha,--that Bhikkhu (who was concerned in that matter), having committed an
offence, and having been sentenced to expulsion, has seen (his offence) and has
been restored. Come, friends, let us declare now the re-establishment of concord
among the Samgha in order to bring that matter to an end.'
Then the Bhikkhus who had pronounced that sentence of expulsion, went to the
place where the Blessed One was; having approached him and respectfully saluted
the Blessed One, they sat down near him; sitting near him those Bhikkhus said to
the Blessed One: 'Lord, those partisans of the expelled Bhikkhu have said to us:
"As regards
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that matter (&c., down to:) in order to bring that matter to an end." What are
we to do here, Lord?'
14. 'Since this Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, having committed an offence, and having
been sentenced to expulsion, has seen (his offence) and has been re-stored, let
the Samgha, O Bhikkhus, declare the re-establishment of concord in order to
bring that matter to an end. And this declaration is to be performed in this
way: Let all brethren assemble together, both the sick and the healthy; no one
is allowed to send his declaration of khanda 1 (and to stay away). When you have
assembled, let a learned, competent Bhikkhu proclaim the following ñatti before
the Samgha: "Let the Samgha, reverend Sirs, hear me. As regards that matter
which gave origin to altercations among the Samgha, to contentions, discord,
quarrels, divisions among the Samgha, to disunion among the Samgha, to
separations among the Samgha, to schisms among the Samgha,--that Bhikkhu
(concerned in that matter), having committed an offence, and having been
sentenced to expulsion, has seen (his offence) and has been restored. If the
Samgha is ready, let the Samgha declare the re-establishment of concord in order
to bring that matter to an end. This is the ñatti. Let the Samgha, reverend
Sirs, hear me (&c. 2, down to:) the re-establishment of concord, in order to
bring that matter to an end, has been declared by the Samgha; the division that
existed among the Samgha has been settled; the disunion that existed
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among the Samgha has been settled. The Samgha is in favour (of this
declaration); therefore you are silent; thus I understand." Then let the Samgha
hold Uposatha and proclaim the Pâtimokkha.'
Footnotes
314:1 Ubbâlha; see Gâtaka I, 300, and Mahâvagga III, 9, 1.
316:1 Our translation of sâvasesa and anavasesa is entirely conjectural. By the
exceptions alluded to here we believe that such clauses must be understood as,
for instance, in the sixth Nissaggiya Rule the words: 'Except at the right
season;--here the right season means when the Bhikkhu has been robbed of his
robe, or when his robe has been destroyed. This is the right season in this
connection.'
316:2 The term 'Dutthullâ âpatti' is used also in the ninth Pâkittiya Rule, and
the Old Commentary there states that by 'grave offences' those belonging to the
Pârâgika and Samghâdisesa classes are understood.
317:1 The name of this Thera is spelt in the MSS. Mahâkotthita and Mahâkotthita.
In the Northern Buddhist works he is called Mahâkaushthilya. In the Lalita
Vistara (p. 1, ed. Calc.) Kaundilya is a misprint.
318:1 See Kullavagga X, 1, 4, and the 59th Pâkittiya Rule in the
Bhikkhunî-pâtimokkha.
318:2 As in § 8. Instead of 'Well, householder,' read 'Well, Visâkhâ.'
319:1 Such as food, robes, &c.
321:1 See II, 23.
321:2 Here follows the repetition of the ñatti and the other solemn formulas
belonging to a ñattidutiya kamma in the usual way.
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