SBE 17: First Khandhaka: Chapter 13

III. THE PABBÂGANIYA-KAMMA (ACT OF BANISHMENT).

13 1.

1. Now at that time the Bhikkhus who were followers of Assagi and Punabbasu were dwelling on the Kitâ Hill, wicked Bhikkhus, and shameless. Such as these were the evil practices they followed: they used to plant cuttings of flowers, and have them planted; they used to water flowers, and have them watered; they used to gather them, and have them gathered; they used to make them up into nosegays, and have them so made up; they used to make them up, and to have them made up, into wreaths, of the kind with the stalks together, and of the kind with the stalks separate 2, of the kind called mañgarikâ 3, of the kind called vidhutikâ 4, of the kind called vatamsaka 5, of the kind

1, of the kind called urakkhada 2;--and they then used to take or send wreaths of each of these various kinds to the wives and daughters and young women and sisters-in-law and female slaves in respectable families;--and they used to eat out of one dish, to drink out of one vessel, to sit on one seat, to lie on one bed, one mat, one coverlet, with the wives and daughters and young women and sisters-in-law and female slaves in respectable families;--and they used to eat food at the wrong time, and to drink strong drink, and to make use of garlands, and scents, and unguents;--and they used to dance, and sing, and play music, and wanton, and all these together in every combination.

2. And they used to amuse themselves at games 3 with eight pieces and ten pieces, and with tossing up, hopping over diagrams formed on the ground, and removing substances from a heap without shaking the remainder; and with games at dice, and trap-ball; and with sketching rude figures, tossing balls, blowing trumpets, having matches at ploughing with mimic ploughs, tumbling, forming mimic wind-mills, guessing at measures, having

1, and to wring their hands 2, and to wrestle 3, and to box with their fists;--and spreading their robes out as a stage they used to invite dancing girls, saying, 'Here you may dance, sister!' and greet her with applause 4. Thus manifold were the evil lives which they practised.

3. Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu who had spent the rainy season in the country of Kâsi, and was on his way to visit the Blessed One, arrived at the Kitâ Hill. And that Bhikkhu in the early morning put on his under garment, and went, duly bowled and robed, to the Kitâ Hill for alms. And he was perfect in dignity, with his eyes cast down, and pleasing in appearance, whether in going in or

1.

Then the people on beholding that Bhikkhu, said, 'Who is this fellow like a fool of fools, or like an idiot of idiots, or like a simpleton of simpletons 2? Who would give an alms when this fellow comes near! Now our own masters, the followers of Assagi and Punabbasu, are gentle, friendly, pleasant in speech, radiant with smiles, by no means fools, but open in countenance, and the first to speak. To such now it is fit to give an alms!'

And a certain lay-disciple saw that Bhikkhu as he was going along the Kitâ Hill for alms. And on seeing him, he went up to the place where he was; and on coming there he said to that Bhikkhu:

'Has your reverence received an alms?'

'No, my friend, I have received no alms!'

'Come, your reverence! Let us go to my house!' 4. So the lay-disciple took the Bhikkhu to his house, and gave him to eat, and asked him: 'Whither then is your reverence going?'

'I am on my way to Sâvatthi, my friend, to visit the Blessed One.'

'Then let your reverence bow down at the feet of the Blessed One in my name, and say, "The residence on the Kitâ Hill, Lord, has been spoiled. The Bhikkhus who are followers of Assagi and Punabbasu are dwelling on the Kitâ Hill, wicked Bhikkhus, and shameless. Such as these are the

5. 'Very well, my friend,' said the Bhikkhu, in assent, to that lay-disciple. And rising from his seat, he set out for Sâvatthi, and went straight on to Anâtha-pindika's grove, to the Getavana in Sâvatthi, to the place where the Blessed One was staying. And on arriving there he saluted the Blessed One, and took his seat on one side.

Now it is the custom for the Blessed Buddhas to exchange words of greeting with in-coming Bhikkhus. And the Blessed One said to that Bhikkhu, 'Do things go well with you, O Bhikkhu? Have you enough for your support? Have you accomplished your journey without too much fatigue? And whence, O Bhikkhu, have you come?'

'Things go well with me, Lord. I have enough for my support. And I have accomplished my journey without too much fatigue. I have spent the rainy season, Lord, in the land of Kâsi; and on my way to Sâvatthi to visit the Blessed One I arrived at the Kitâ Hill. And after having dressed early in the morning, I went, Lord, duly bowled and robed, on to the Kitâ Hill for alms. And a certain lay-disciple saw me (&c., as above, down to the end of § 4, with the alterations necessary to

1, to the Kitâ Hill. And on arriving there carry out the Pabbâganiya-kamma (Act of Banishment 2) against those Bhikkhus who are followers of Assagi and Punabbasu, to the effect that they may become your Saddhi-vihârikas 3.'

1. 'Now thus, O Bhikkhus, should it be carried out. In the first place the Bhikkhus who are followers of Assagi and Punabbasu ought to be warned: when they have been warned, they ought to be reminded (of the Rule in the Pâtimokkha against which they have offended); when they have been reminded they ought to be charged with the offence; when they have been charged some discreet and able Bhikkhu ought to lay the matter before the Samgha, saying,

"Let the venerable Samgha hear me. These Bhikkhus who are followers of Assagi and Punabbasu are wicked Bhikkhus and shameless. Their evil practices are both seen and heard, and also that respectable families have been led astray by them is seen, too, and heard 2. If the time is fit for the Samgha to do so, let the Samgha carry out the Pabbâganiyakamma against those Bhikkhus who are followers of Assagi and Punabbasu, to the effect that the Bhikkhus who are followers

'"Let the venerable Samgha hear me. These Bhikkhus who are followers of Assagi and Punabbasu are wicked Bhikkhus and shameless. Their evil practices (&c., as before, down to) is seen, too, and heard. The Samgha hereby carries out the Pabbâganiya-kamma against them, to the effect that the Bhikkhus who are followers of Assagi and Punabbasu are not to dwell on the Kitâ Hill 1. Whosoever of the venerable ones approves of the carrying out of the Pabbâganiya-kamma against the followers (&c., as before) to the effect (&c., as before 1) let him remain silent. Whosoever approves not thereof, let him speak.

'"A second time I say the same thing. Let the venerable Samgha (&c., as before). A third time I say the same thing. Let the venerable Samgha (&c., as before).

'"The Pabbâganiya-kamma has been carried out by the Samgha against those Bhikkhus who are followers of Assagi and Punabbasu to the effect that those Bhikkhus who are followers of Assagi and Punabbasu are not to dwell on the Kitâ Hill'. The Samgha approves of it. Therefore is it silent. Thus do I understand."'

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Footnotes

347:1 The whole of this chapter recurs in the Sutta Vibhaṅga on the 13th Samghâdisesa. The proceeding here laid down is really only a later method of acting under the circumstances similar to those for which that rule had previously been the authorised dealing.

347:2 The Samanta Pâsâdikâ says, Ekatovantikan ti pupphânam vante ekato katvâ kata-mâlam. Ubhatovantikan ti ubhohi passehi puppha-vante katvâ kata-mâlam.

347:3 Perhaps 'like an anklet.' The Sam. Pâs. says, Mañgarî viya katâ puppha-vikati mañgarikâ ti.

347:4 Perhaps 'like a fan.' The Sam. Pâs. says, Vidhutikâ ti sûkiyâ vâ salâkâya vâ sinduvâra-pupphâdîni vigghitvâ katâ (mâlâ).

347:5 Perhaps 'like a crest.' The Sam. Pâs. says, vatamsako ti348:1 Perhaps 'like an earring.' The Sam. Pâs. says, akelo (sic) ti kannikâ. Compare Sanskrit âpîda, and Gâtaka, vol. i, pp. 12, 95, 269.

348:2 The Sam. Pâs. says, Urakkhado ti hâra-sadisam ure-thapanaka-puppha dâmam. 'Like mail-armour.'

348:3 All these games are forbidden seriatim in paragraph 4 of the Magghima Sîla, and the whole list of offences recurs in the Suttavibhaṅga, Samghâdisesa XIII, 1, 2. See Rh. D., 'Buddhist Suttas from the Pâli,' p. 193. We adhere to the translations there given and based on the Sumaṅgala Vilâsinî.

349:1 Usselhenti. We are quite uncertain how to render this word. One might be tempted to think that a denominative verb from ussolhi may have acquired a technical sense appropriate to this passage. But we do not favour any such conjectural alteration of the clear reading of the MSS., at all events at present.

349:2 Appothenti. See Buddhaghosa's note quoted by Rh. D. in his note on the Book of the Great Decease, II, 19.

349:3 Nibbugghanti, which Buddhaghosa explains by malla-yuddham karonti. Compare ubbugghati at Kullavagga VIII, lo, and Sutra-vibhaṅga, Pârâgika I, 10, 26.

349:4 The Sam. Pâs. says, Nalâtikam pi denti sâdhu sâdhu bhaginîti attano nalâte aṅgulim thapetvâ tassâ nalâte thapenti.

350:1 Compare Mahâ-parinibbâna Sutta II, 15.

350:2 The Sam. Pâs. says, Samkutita-mukhatâya bhâkutika-bhâkutikâ viya.

352:1 On this meaning of Sâriputta, see the note on Mahâvagga X, 4, 3.

352:2 That is, out of the particular place where they have caused the scandal, not of the Order. When they in anger left the Order, their conduct in doing so is blamed. See chap. 16, § 1.

352:3 See Mahâvagga I, 25, 6, and following, and Kullavagga VIII, 11, 12, and compare above 9, 1.

353:1 On this section compare chap. 1, § 4, chap. 9, § 2.

353:2 Buddhaghosa points out that whereas the Tagganiya-kamma is directed against quarrelsomeness, and the nissaya-kamma against foolishness, it is scandal to the community against which the Pabbâganiya-kamma is directed.

354:1 The corresponding clause to the words 'to the effect,' &c., is wanting in chap. 1, § 4, but occurs in chap. 9, § 2.