1. Now when the Blessed One had remained at Sâvatthi as long as he thought fit, he went forth on his journey to Râgagaha. And wandering straight on he arrived at Râgagaha: and there at Râgagaha he stayed at the Veluvana in the Kalandaka-nivâpa.
Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu was suffering from fistula 4. And the physician (named) Âkâsa-gotta lanced it. And the Blessed One when he
And having rebuked him, the Blessed One, after delivering a religious discourse, said to the Bhikkhus: You are not, O Bhikkhus, to allow a surgical operation to be performed upon you in that part
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
'Is it true, as they say, O Bhikkhus, that the Khabbaggiya Bhikkhus use a clyster?'
'It is true, Lord.'
He rebuked them, and having delivered a religious discourse, said to the Bhikkhus: 'No surgical operation is to be performed within a distance of two inches round the anus, and a clyster is not to be used. Whosoever does so, is guilty of a thullakkaya offence 2.'
78:4 Compare VIII, 1, 14.
79:1 Sambâdhe.
80:1 Vatthikamma. See Wise, 'Hindu Medicine,' pp. 143 and following.
80:2 Surgical operations are allowed in 14. 5 and below.
