• Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
  • The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaį¹…ga
  • The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaį¹‡įøa
  • The subchapter on naked ascetics Acelakavagga

47. The training rule on Mahānāma 47. Mahānāmasikkhāpada

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme. Mahānāma the Sakyan had an abundance of tonics. Tena kho pana samayena mahānāmassa sakkassa bhesajjaṁ ussannaṁ hoti. He went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, Atha kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaį¹…kami; upasaį¹…kamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisÄ«di. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavocaā€”ā€œSir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for four months.ā€ ā€œicchāmahaṁ, bhante, saį¹…ghaṁ catumāsaṁ bhesajjena pavāretunā€ti.

ā€œGood, good, Mahānāma. ā€œSādhu sādhu, mahānāma. Please do so.ā€ Tena hi tvaṁ, mahānāma, saį¹…ghaṁ catumāsaṁ bhesajjena pavārehÄ«ā€ti.

But the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. BhikkhÅ« kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti. They then told the Buddha what had happened. … Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

ā€œMonks, I allow you to accept an invitation to ask for tonics for four months.ā€ anujānāmi, bhikkhave, catumāsaṁ bhesajjappaccayapavāraṇaṁ sāditunā€ti.

Yet the monks only asked Mahānāma for a small amount of tonics, and so he still had an abundance. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhÅ« mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ parittaṁ bhesajjaṁ viƱƱāpenti. Tatheva mahānāmassa sakkassa bhesajjaṁ ussannaṁ hoti. A second time he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, Dutiyampi kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaį¹…kami; upasaį¹…kamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisÄ«di. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavocaā€”ā€œSir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for a further four months.ā€ ā€œicchāmahaṁ, bhante, saį¹…ghaṁ aparampi catumāsaṁ bhesajjena pavāretunā€ti.

ā€œGood, good, Mahānāma. ā€œSādhu sādhu, mahānāma. Please do so.ā€ Tena hi tvaṁ, mahānāma, saį¹…ghaṁ aparampi catumāsaṁ bhesajjena pavārehÄ«ā€ti.

Again the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. BhikkhÅ« kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti. They told the Buddha. … Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

ā€œMonks, I allow you to accept a further invitation.ā€ anujānāmi, bhikkhave, puna pavāraṇampi sāditunā€ti.

Once again the monks only asked Mahānāma for a small amount of tonics, and so he still had an abundance. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhÅ« mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ parittaṁyeva bhesajjaṁ viƱƱāpenti. Tatheva mahānāmassa sakkassa bhesajjaṁ ussannaṁ hoti. A third time he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, Tatiyampi kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaį¹…kami; upasaį¹…kamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisÄ«di. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavocaā€”ā€œSir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for life.ā€ ā€œicchāmahaṁ, bhante, saį¹…ghaṁ yāvajÄ«vaṁ bhesajjena pavāretunā€ti.

ā€œGood, good, Mahānāma. ā€œSādhu sādhu, mahānāma. Please do so.ā€ Tena hi tvaṁ, mahānāma, saį¹…ghaṁ yāvajÄ«vaṁ bhesajjena pavārehÄ«ā€ti.

Yet again the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. BhikkhÅ« kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti. They told the Buddha. … Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

ā€œMonks, I allow you to accept a permanent invitation.ā€ anujānāmi, bhikkhave, niccapavāraṇampi sāditunā€ti.

At that time the monks from the group of six were shabbily dressed and improper in appearance. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhÅ« dunnivatthā honti duppārutā anākappasampannā. Mahānāma criticized them, ā€œVenerables, why are you shabbily dressed and improper in appearance? Mahānāmo sakko vattā hotiā€”ā€œkissa tumhe, bhante, dunnivatthā duppārutā anākappasampannā? Shouldn’t one who has gone forth be suitably dressed and proper in appearance?ā€ Nanu nāma pabbajitena sunivatthena bhavitabbaṁ supārutena ākappasampannenÄā€ti?

The monks from the group of six developed a grudge against Mahānāma. Chabbaggiyā bhikkhÅ« mahānāme sakke upanandhiṁsu. Thinking of ways to humiliate him, it occurred to them, Atha kho chabbaggiyānaṁ bhikkhÅ«naṁ etadahosiā€”ā€œkena nu kho mayaṁ upāyena mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ maį¹…kuṁ kareyyāmÄā€ti? Atha kho chabbaggiyānaṁ bhikkhÅ«naṁ etadahosiā€”ā€œMahānāma has invited the Sangha to ask for tonics. Let’s ask him for ghee.ā€ ā€œmahānāmena kho, āvuso, sakkena saį¹…gho bhesajjena pavārito. Handa mayaṁ, āvuso, mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ sappiṁ viƱƱāpemÄā€ti.

They then went to Mahānāma and said, ā€œWe need a <i lang='pi' translate='no'>doṇa measure of ghee.ā€ Atha kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhÅ« yena mahānāmo sakko tenupasaį¹…kamiṁsu; upasaį¹…kamitvā mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ etadavocuį¹ā€”ā€œdoṇena, āvuso, sappinā atthoā€ti.

ā€œPlease wait until tomorrow. ā€œAjjaṇho, bhante, āgametha. People have gone to the cow-pen to get ghee. Manussā vajaṁ gatā sappiṁ āharituṁ. You may come and get it in the morning.ā€ Kālaṁ āharissathÄā€ti.

A second time Dutiyampi kho …pe… and a third time the monks from the group of six said the same thing, tatiyampi kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhÅ« mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ etadavocuį¹ā€”ā€œdoṇena, āvuso, sappinā atthoā€ti. and Mahānāma replied as before. ā€œAjjaṇho, bhante, āgametha. Manussā vajaṁ gatā sappiṁ āharituṁ. Kālaṁ āharissathÄā€ti. They then said, ā€œWhy do you give an invitation if you don’t wish to give?ā€ ā€œKiṁ pana tayā, āvuso, adātukāmena pavāritena, yaṁ tvaṁ pavāretvā na desÄ«ā€ti.

Mahānāma complained and criticized them, ā€œHow can they not wait for one day when asked?ā€ Atha kho mahānāmo sakko ujjhāyati khiyyati vipācetiā€”ā€œkathaƱhi nāma bhadantÄā€”ā€˜ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamethā’ti vuccamānā nāgamessantÄ«ā€ti.

The monks heard the complaints of Mahānāma, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhÅ« mahānāmassa sakkassa ujjhāyantassa khiyyantassa vipācentassa. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhÅ« appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācentiā€”ā€œHow could the monks from the group of six not wait for one day when asked by Mahānāma?ā€ … ā€œkathaƱhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhÅ« mahānāmena sakkenaā€”ā€˜ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamethā’ti vuccamānā nāgamessantÄ«ā€ti …pe… ā€œIs it true, monks, that you acted like this?ā€ ā€œsaccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, mahānāmena sakkenaā€”ā€˜ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamethā’ti vuccamānā nāgamethÄā€ti?

ā€œIt’s true, sir.ā€ ā€œSaccaṁ, bhagavÄā€ti.

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… ā€œFoolish men, how could you act like this? kathaƱhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, mahānāmena sakkenaā€”ā€œajjaṇho, bhante, āgamethÄā€ti vuccamānā nāgamessatha. This will affect people’s confidence ā€¦ā€ … Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… ā€œAnd, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evaƱca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Final ruling

ā€˜A monk who is not sick may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for four months. If he accepts one beyond that limit, except if it is a further invitation or a permanent invitation, he commits an offense entailing confession.ā€™ā€ ā€œAgilānena bhikkhunā catumāsappaccayapavāraṇā sāditabbā, aƱƱatra punapavāraṇāya, aƱƱatra niccapavāraṇāya; tato ce uttari sādiyeyya, pācittiyanā€ti.

Definitions

A monk who is not sick may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for four months: Agilānena bhikkhunā catumāsappaccayapavāraṇā sāditabbāti
he may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for the sick. gilānappaccayapavāraṇā sāditabbā.
He may also accept a further invitation: Punapavāraṇāpi sāditabbāti
he should think, ā€œI’ll ask when I’m sick.ā€ yadā gilāno bhavissāmi tadā viƱƱāpessāmÄ«ti.
He may also accept a permanent invitation: Niccapavāraṇāpi sāditabbāti
he should think, ā€œI’ll ask when I’m sick.ā€ yadā gilāno bhavissāmi tadā viƱƱāpessāmÄ«ti.
If he accepts one beyond that limit: Tato ce uttari sādiyeyyāti
there are invitations that have a limit on the tonics, but no limit on the time period; atthi pavāraṇā bhesajjapariyantā na rattipariyantā, there are invitations that have a limit on the time period, but no limit on the tonics; atthi pavāraṇā rattipariyantā na bhesajjapariyantā, there are invitations that have a limit on both the tonics and the time period; atthi pavāraṇā bhesajjapariyantā ca rattipariyantā ca, there are invitations that have neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period. atthi pavāraṇā neva bhesajjapariyantā na rattipariyantā.
Limit on the tonics: Bhesajjapariyantā nāma
the tonics are restricted: ā€œI invite you to ask for these particular tonics.ā€ bhesajjāni pariggahitāni hontiā€”ā€œettakehi bhesajjehi pavāremÄ«ā€ti.
Limit on the time period: Rattipariyantā nāma
the time period is restricted: ā€œI invite you to ask during this particular period of time.ā€ rattiyo pariggahitāyo hontiā€”ā€œettakāsu rattÄ«su pavāremÄ«ā€ti.
Limit on both the tonics and the time period: Bhesajjapariyantā ca rattipariyantā ca nāma
both the tonics and the time period are restricted: ā€œI invite you to ask for these particular tonics during this particular period of time.ā€ bhesajjāni ca pariggahitāni honti rattiyo ca pariggahitāyo hontiā€”ā€œettakehi bhesajjehi ettakāsu rattÄ«su pavāremÄ«ā€ti.
Neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period: Neva bhesajjapariyantā na rattipariyantā nāma
neither the tonics nor the time period is restricted. bhesajjāni ca apariggahitāni honti rattiyo ca apariggahitāyo honti.

When there is a limit on the tonics, if he asks for tonics other than those he has been invited to ask for, he commits an offense entailing confession. Bhesajjapariyante—yehi bhesajjehi pavārito hoti tāni bhesajjāni į¹­hapetvā aƱƱāni bhesajjāni viƱƱāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. When there is a limit on the time period, if he asks outside of the period during which he has been invited to ask, he commits an offense entailing confession. Rattipariyante—yāsu rattÄ«su pavārito hoti, tā rattiyo į¹­hapetvā aƱƱāsu rattÄ«su viƱƱāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. When there is a limit on both the tonics and on the time period, if he asks for tonics other than those he has been invited to ask for or he asks outside of the period during which he has been invited to ask, he commits an offense entailing confession. Bhesajjapariyante ca rattipariyante ca—yehi bhesajjehi pavārito hoti, tāni bhesajjāni į¹­hapetvā yāsu rattÄ«su pavārito hoti, tā rattiyo į¹­hapetvā aƱƱāni bhesajjāni aƱƱāsu rattÄ«su viƱƱāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. When there is neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period, there is no offense. Neva bhesajjapariyante na rattipariyante, anāpatti.

If he asks for tonics when he has no need for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Na bhesajjena karaṇīyena bhesajjaṁ viƱƱāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he asks for a tonic other than the tonic he needs, he commits an offense entailing confession. AƱƱena bhesajjena karaṇīyena aƱƱaṁ bhesajjaṁ viƱƱāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Permutations

If it is beyond the limit, and he perceives it as such, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Tatuttari tatuttarisaññī bhesajjaṁ viññāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is beyond the limit, but he is unsure of it, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Tatuttari vematiko bhesajjaṁ viññāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is beyond the limit, but he does not perceive it as such, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Tatuttari natatuttarisaññī bhesajjaṁ viññāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If it is not beyond the limit, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Natatuttari tatuttarisaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is not beyond the limit, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Natatuttari vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is not beyond the limit, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense. Natatuttari natatuttarisaññī, anāpatti.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if he asks for those tonics for which he was invited to ask; yehi bhesajjehi pavārito hoti tāni bhesajjāni viƱƱāpeti, if he asks during the time period for which he was invited to ask; yāsu rattÄ«su pavārito hoti tāsu rattÄ«su viƱƱāpeti, if he asks by informing, ā€œYou have invited me to ask for these tonics, but I need such-and-such a tonic;ā€ ā€œimehi tayā bhesajjehi pavāritāmha, amhākaƱca iminā ca iminā ca bhesajjena atthoā€ti ācikkhitvā viƱƱāpeti, if he asks by informing, ā€œThe time period during which you invited me to ask has passed, but I need tonics;ā€ ā€œyāsu tayā rattÄ«su pavāritāmha tāyo ca rattiyo vÄ«tivattā amhākaƱca bhesajjena atthoā€ti ācikkhitvā viƱƱāpeti, if it is from relatives; Ʊātakānaṁ if it is from those who have given an invitation; pavāritānaṁ, if it is for the benefit of someone else; aƱƱassatthāya, if it is by means of his own property; attano dhanena, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.

The training rule on Mahānāma, the seventh, is finished. Mahānāmasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.