0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
0.2MahāvibhaṅgaThe Great Analysis
0.3NissaggiyakaṇḍaThe chapter on relinquishment
0.4CīvaravaggaThe subchapter on robes

0.510. RājasikkhāpadaExcessive prompting to get a robe

1.1.0Origin story

1.1.1PTS 3.220Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.1.1.2Tena kho pana samayena āyasmato upanandassa sakyaputtassa upaṭṭhāko mahāmatto āyasmato upanandassa sakyaputtassa dūtena cīvaracetāpannaṁ pāhesi—At that time a certain government official was a supporter of Venerable Upananda the Sakyan. On one occasion that official sent a robe fund by messenger, saying,1.1.3“iminā cīvaracetāpannena cīvaraṁ cetāpetvā ayyaṁ upanandaṁ cīvarena acchādehī”ti.“Buy robe-cloth with this fund and give it to Venerable Upananda.”

1.1.4Atha kho so dūto yenāyasmā upanando sakyaputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ upanandaṁ sakyaputtaṁ etadavoca—The messenger went to Upananda and said,1.1.5“idaṁ kho, bhante, āyasmantaṁ uddissa cīvaracetāpannaṁ ābhataṁ.“Venerable, I’ve brought a robe fund for you.1.1.6Paṭiggaṇhātu āyasmā cīvaracetāpannan”ti.Please receive it.”

1.1.7Evaṁ vutte āyasmā upanando sakyaputto taṁ dūtaṁ etadavoca—1.1.8“na kho mayaṁ, āvuso, cīvaracetāpannaṁ paṭiggaṇhāma, cīvarañca kho mayaṁ paṭiggaṇhāma kālena kappiyan”ti.“We don’t receive robe funds, but we do receive allowable robe-cloth at the right time.”

1.1.9Evaṁ vutte, so dūto āyasmantaṁ upanandaṁ sakyaputtaṁ etadavoca—1.1.10“atthi panāyasmato koci veyyāvaccakaro”ti?“Is there anyone who provides services for you?”

1.1.11Tena kho pana samayena aññataro upāsako ārāmaṁ agamāsi kenacideva karaṇīyena.Just then a lay follower had come to the monastery on some business.1.1.12Atha kho āyasmā upanando sakyaputto taṁ dūtaṁ etadavoca—Upananda told the messenger,1.1.13“eso kho, āvuso, upāsako bhikkhūnaṁ veyyāvaccakaro”ti.“This lay follower provides services for the monks.”

1.1.14Atha kho so dūto taṁ upāsakaṁ saññāpetvā yenāyasmā upanando sakyaputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ upanandaṁ sakyaputtaṁ etadavoca—The messenger instructed that lay follower and then returned to Upananda, saying,1.1.15“yaṁ kho, bhante, āyasmā veyyāvaccakaraṁ niddisi saññatto so mayā.“I’ve instructed the lay follower you pointed out to me.1.1.16Upasaṅkamatu āyasmā kālena, cīvarena taṁ acchādessatī”ti.Please go to them at the right time and they’ll give you robe-cloth.”

1.1.17Tena kho pana samayena so mahāmatto āyasmato upanandassa sakyaputtassa santike dūtaṁ pāhesi—Later on that government official sent a message to Upananda, saying,1.1.18“paribhuñjatu ayyo taṁ cīvaraṁ, icchāma mayaṁ ayyena taṁ cīvaraṁ paribhuttan”ti.“Please use the robe-cloth. I would like you to use the robe-cloth.”1.1.19Atha kho āyasmā upanando sakyaputto taṁ upāsakaṁ na kiñci avacāsi.When Upananda did not say anything to that lay follower,1.1.20Dutiyampi kho so mahāmatto āyasmato upanandassa sakyaputtassa santike dūtaṁ pāhesi—that government official sent him a second message1.1.21“paribhuñjatu ayyo taṁ cīvaraṁ, icchāma mayaṁ ayyena taṁ cīvaraṁ paribhuttan”ti.saying the same thing.1.1.22Dutiyampi kho āyasmā upanando sakyaputto taṁ upāsakaṁ na kiñci avacāsi.When Upananda still did not say anything to that lay follower,1.1.23Tatiyampi kho so mahāmatto āyasmato upanandassa sakyaputtassa santike dūtaṁ pāhesi—that government official sent him a third message.1.1.24“paribhuñjatu ayyo taṁ cīvaraṁ, icchāma mayaṁ ayyena taṁ cīvaraṁ paribhuttan”ti.

1.2.1Tena kho pana samayena negamassa samayo hoti.1.2.2Negamena ca katikā katā hoti— “yo pacchā āgacchati paññāsaṁ baddho”ti.At that time the householder association had made an agreement that whoever came late to a meeting would be fined fifty coins. And now they were having a meeting.1.2.3Atha kho āyasmā upanando sakyaputto yena so upāsako tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ upāsakaṁ etadavoca—Just then Upananda went to that lay follower and said,1.2.4“attho me, āvuso, cīvarenā”ti.“I need robe-cloth.”

1.2.5“Ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamehi, ajja negamassa samayo.“Please wait one day, venerable, for today there’s a meeting of the householder association.1.2.6Negamena ca katikā katā hoti—‘yo pacchā āgacchati paññāsaṁ baddho’”ti.They’ve made an agreement that whoever comes late gets fined fifty coins.”

1.2.7“Ajjeva me, āvuso, cīvaraṁ dehī”ti ovaṭṭikāya parāmasi.Saying, “Give me the robe-cloth today,” he grabbed him by the belt.

1.2.8Atha kho so upāsako āyasmatā upanandena sakyaputtena nippīḷiyamāno āyasmato upanandassa sakyaputtassa cīvaraṁ cetāpetvā pacchā agamāsi.Being pressured by Upananda, the lay follower bought him robe-cloth, and as a consequence he was late for the meeting.1.2.9Manussā taṁ upāsakaṁ etadavocuṁ—People asked him,1.2.10“kissa tvaṁ, ayyo, pacchā āgato, paññāsaṁ jīnosī”ti.“Sir, why are you late? You’ve just lost fifty coins.”

1.2.11PTS 3.221Atha kho so upāsako tesaṁ manussānaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi.When that lay follower told them what had happened,1.2.12Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—they complained and criticized Upananda,1.2.13“mahicchā ime samaṇā sakyaputtiyā asantuṭṭhā.“These Sakyan monastics have great desires. They’re not content.1.2.14Nayimesaṁ sukaraṁ veyyāvaccampi kātuṁ.It’s no easy matter to provide them with a service.1.2.15Kathañhi nāma āyasmā upanando upāsakena—How could Venerable Upananda not agree when asked by a lay follower1.2.16‘ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamehī’ti vuccamāno nāgamessatī”ti.to wait for a day?”

1.2.17Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ.The monks heard the complaints of those people,1.2.18Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—and the monks of few desires complained and criticized him,1.2.19“kathañhi nāma āyasmā upanando sakyaputto upāsakena—“How could Venerable Upananda not agree when asked by a lay follower1.2.20‘ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamehī’ti vuccamāno nāgamessatī”ti.to wait for a day?”

1.2.21Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ upanandaṁ sakyaputtaṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…After rebuking him in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Upananda:1.2.22“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, upananda, upāsakena—“Is it true, Upananda, that you did this?”1.2.23‘ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamehī’ti vuccamāno nāgamesī”ti?

1.2.24“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.“It’s true, sir.”

1.2.25Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked him …1.2.26kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, upāsakena—“Foolish man, how could you do this?1.2.27‘ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamehī’ti vuccamāno nāgamessasi.1.2.28Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.2.29evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

1.3.0Final ruling

1.3.1PTS 3.222“Bhikkhuṁ paneva uddissa rājā vā rājabhoggo vā brāhmaṇo vā gahapatiko vā dūtena cīvaracetāpannaṁ pahiṇeyya—‘If a king, a king’s employee, a brahmin, or a householder sends a robe fund for a monk by messenger, saying,1.3.2‘iminā cīvaracetāpannena cīvaraṁ cetāpetvā itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuṁ cīvarena acchādehī’ti.“Buy robe-cloth with this robe fund and give it to monk so-and-so,”1.3.3So ce dūto taṁ bhikkhuṁ upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ vadeyya—and the messenger goes to that monk and says,1.3.4‘idaṁ kho, bhante, āyasmantaṁ uddissa cīvaracetāpannaṁ ābhataṁ, paṭiggaṇhātu āyasmā cīvaracetāpannan’ti,“Venerable, I have brought a robe fund for you. Please receive it,”1.3.5tena bhikkhunā so dūto evamassa vacanīyo—then that monk should reply,1.3.6‘na kho mayaṁ, āvuso, cīvaracetāpannaṁ paṭiggaṇhāma. Cīvarañca kho mayaṁ paṭiggaṇhāma, kālena kappiyan’ti.“We don’t receive robe funds, but we do receive allowable robe-cloth at the right time.”1.3.7So ce dūto taṁ bhikkhuṁ evaṁ vadeyya—If that messenger says,1.3.8‘atthi panāyasmato koci veyyāvaccakaro’ti,“Is there anyone who provides services for you?”1.3.9cīvaratthikena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā veyyāvaccakaro niddisitabbo ārāmiko vā upāsako vā—the monk, if he needs robe-cloth, should point out a monastery worker or a lay follower and say,1.3.10‘eso kho, āvuso, bhikkhūnaṁ veyyāvaccakaro’ti.“They provide services for the monks.”1.3.11So ce dūto taṁ veyyāvaccakaraṁ saññāpetvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ vadeyya—If the messenger instructs that service provider and then returns to the monk and says,1.3.12‘yaṁ kho, bhante, āyasmā veyyāvaccakaraṁ niddisi saññatto so mayā, upasaṅkamatu āyasmā kālena, cīvarena taṁ acchādessatī’ti,“Venerable, I have instructed the service provider you pointed out. Please go to them at the right time and they’ll give you robe-cloth,”1.3.13cīvaratthikena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā veyyāvaccakaro upasaṅkamitvā dvattikkhattuṁ codetabbo sāretabbo—then, if that monk needs robe-cloth, he should go to that service provider and prompt them and remind them two or three times, saying,1.3.14‘attho me, āvuso, cīvarenā’ti.“I need robe-cloth.”1.3.15Dvattikkhattuṁ codayamāno sārayamāno taṁ cīvaraṁ abhinipphādeyya, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ;If he then gets robe-cloth, all is well.1.3.16no ce abhinipphādeyya, catukkhattuṁ pañcakkhattuṁ chakkhattuparamaṁ tuṇhībhūtena uddissa ṭhātabbaṁ.If he does not get it, he should stand in silence for it at most six times.1.3.17Catukkhattuṁ pañcakkhattuṁ chakkhattuparamaṁ tuṇhībhūto uddissa tiṭṭhamāno taṁ cīvaraṁ abhinipphādeyya, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ;If he then gets robe-cloth, all is well.1.3.18tato ce uttari vāyamamāno taṁ cīvaraṁ abhinipphādeyya, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.If he makes any further effort and then gets robe-cloth, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.1.3.19No ce abhinipphādeyya, yatassa cīvaracetāpannaṁ ābhataṁ, tattha sāmaṁ vā gantabbaṁ dūto vā pāhetabbo—If he does not get robe-cloth, he should go to the owners of that robe fund, or send a message, saying,1.3.20‘yaṁ kho tumhe āyasmanto bhikkhuṁ uddissa cīvaracetāpannaṁ pahiṇittha, na taṁ tassa bhikkhuno kiñci atthaṁ anubhoti,“That monk hasn’t received any benefit from the robe fund you sent for him.1.3.21yuñjantāyasmanto sakaṁ, mā vo sakaṁ vinassā’ti,Please recover what’s yours, or it might perish.”1.3.22ayaṁ tattha sāmīcī”ti.This is the proper procedure.’”

2.1.0Definitions

2.1.1Bhikkhuṁ paneva uddissātiFor a monk:

2.1.2bhikkhussatthāya, bhikkhuṁ ārammaṇaṁ karitvā, bhikkhuṁ acchādetukāmo.for the benefit of a monk; making a monk the object of consideration, one wants to give to him.

2.1.3Rājā nāmaA king:

2.1.4yo koci rajjaṁ kāreti.whoever rules.

2.1.5Rājabhoggo nāmaA king’s employee:

2.1.6yo koci rañño bhattavetanāhāro.whoever gets food and wages from a king.

2.1.7Brāhmaṇo nāmaA brahmin:

2.1.8jātiyā brāhmaṇo.a brahmin by birth.

2.1.9Gahapatiko nāmaA householder:

2.1.10ṭhapetvā rājaṁ rājabhoggaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ avaseso gahapatiko nāma.anyone apart from a king, a king’s employee, and a brahmin.

2.1.11Cīvaracetāpannaṁ nāmaA robe fund:

2.1.12hiraññaṁ vā suvaṇṇaṁ vā muttā vā maṇi vā.money, gold, a pearl, or a gem.

2.1.13Iminā cīvaracetāpannenātiWith this robe fund:

2.1.14paccupaṭṭhitena.with that which is at one’s disposal.

2.1.15CetāpetvātiBuy:

2.1.16parivattetvā.having traded.

2.1.17AcchādehītiGive:

2.1.18dajjehi.donate.

2.1.19So ce dūto taṁ bhikkhuṁ upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ vadeyya—And the messenger goes to that monk and says,2.1.20“idaṁ kho, bhante, āyasmantaṁ uddissa cīvaracetāpannaṁ ābhataṁ. Paṭiggaṇhātu āyasmā cīvaracetāpannan”ti,“Venerable, I have brought a robe fund for you. Please receive it,”2.1.21tena bhikkhunā so dūto evamassa vacanīyo—then that monk should reply,2.1.22“na kho mayaṁ, āvuso, cīvaracetāpannaṁ paṭiggaṇhāma. Cīvarañca kho mayaṁ paṭiggaṇhāma, kālena kappiyan”ti.“We don’t receive robe funds, but we do receive allowable robe-cloth at the right time.”2.1.23So ce dūto taṁ bhikkhuṁ evaṁ vadeyya—If that messenger says,2.1.24“atthi panāyasmato koci veyyāvaccakaro”ti?“Is there anyone who provides services for you?”2.1.25Cīvaratthikena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā veyyāvaccakaro niddisitabbo ārāmiko vā upāsako vā—the monk, if he needs robe-cloth, should point out a monastery worker or a lay follower and say,2.1.26“eso kho, āvuso, bhikkhūnaṁ veyyāvaccakaro”ti.“They provides services for the monks”:

2.1.27Na vattabbo— “tassa dehīti vā, so vā nikkhipissati, so vā parivattessati, so vā cetāpessatī”ti.he should not say, “Give it to them,” “They’ll put it aside,” “They’ll trade it,” “They’ll buy it.”

2.1.28So ce dūto taṁ veyyāvaccakaraṁ saññāpetvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ vadeyya—If the messenger instructs that service provider and then returns to the monk and says,2.1.29“yaṁ kho, bhante, āyasmā veyyāvaccakaraṁ niddisi saññatto so mayā. Upasaṅkamatu āyasmā kālena, cīvarena taṁ acchādessatī”ti.“Venerable, I have instructed the service provider you pointed out. Please go to them at the right time and they’ll give you robe-cloth,”2.1.30Cīvaratthikena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā veyyāvaccakaro upasaṅkamitvā dvattikkhattuṁ codetabbo sāretabbo—then, if that monk needs robe-cloth, he should go to that service provider and prompt them and remind them two or three times, saying,¹2.1.31“attho me, āvuso, cīvarenā”ti.“I need robe-cloth”:

2.1.32Na vattabbo— “dehi me cīvaraṁ, āhara me cīvaraṁ, parivattehi me cīvaraṁ, cetāpehi me cīvaran”ti.he should not say, “Give me robe-cloth,” “Get me robe-cloth,” “Trade me robe-cloth,” “Buy me robe-cloth.”

2.1.33PTS 3.223Dutiyampi vattabbo.He should say it a second2.1.34Tatiyampi vattabbo.and a third time.

2.1.35Sace abhinipphādeti, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ;If he gets it, all is well.2.1.36no ce abhinipphādeti, tattha gantvā tuṇhībhūtena uddissa ṭhātabbaṁ.If he does not get it, he should go there and stand in silence for it:

2.1.37Na āsane nisīditabbaṁ. Na āmisaṁ paṭiggahetabbaṁ.he should not sit down on a seat; he should not receive food;2.1.38Na dhammo bhāsitabbo.he should not give a teaching.2.1.39“Kiṁ kāraṇā āgatosī”ti pucchiyamāno “jānāhi, āvuso”ti vattabbo.If he is asked, “Why have you come?” he should say, “Think about it.”²2.1.40Sace āsane vā nisīdati, āmisaṁ vā paṭiggaṇhāti, dhammaṁ vā bhāsati, ṭhānaṁ bhañjati.If he sits down on a seat, or he receives food, or he gives a teaching, he loses one allowance to stand.

2.1.41Dutiyampi ṭhātabbaṁ.He should stand a second2.1.42Tatiyampi ṭhātabbaṁ.and a third time.2.1.43Catukkhattuṁ codetvā catukkhattuṁ ṭhātabbaṁ.If he prompts four times, he can stand four times.³2.1.44Pañcakkhattuṁ codetvā dvikkhattuṁ ṭhātabbaṁ.If he prompts five times, he can stand twice.2.1.45Chakkhattuṁ codetvā na ṭhātabbaṁ.If he prompts six times, he cannot stand at all.

2.2.1Tato ce uttari vāyamamāno taṁ cīvaraṁ abhinipphādeti,If he makes any further effort and then gets robe-cloth:

2.2.2payoge dukkaṭaṁ.for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct.2.2.3Paṭilābhena nissaggiyaṁ hoti.When he gets the robe-cloth, it becomes subject to relinquishment.

2.2.4Nissajjitabbaṁ saṅghassa vā gaṇassa vā puggalassa vā.The robe-cloth should be relinquished to a sangha, a group, or an individual.2.2.5Evañca pana, bhikkhave, nissajjitabbaṁ.“And, monks, it should be relinquished like this. …”2.2.6…pe…(To be expanded as in <a href='https://suttacentral.net/pli-tv-bu-vb-np1#3.2.5'>Bu NP 1:3.2.5</a>–3.2.29, with appropriate substitutions.)

2.2.7“idaṁ me, bhante, cīvaraṁ atirekatikkhattuṁ codanāya atirekachakkhattuṁ ṭhānena abhinipphāditaṁ nissaggiyaṁ.“Venerables, this robe-cloth, which I got after prompting more than three times and standing more than six times, is to be relinquished.2.2.8Imāhaṁ saṅghassa nissajjāmī”ti …pe…I relinquish it to the Sangha.” …2.2.9dadeyyāti …pe…“the Sangha should give …”2.2.10dadeyyunti …pe…“you should give …”2.2.11āyasmato dammīti.“I give this robe-cloth back to you.”

2.2.12No ce abhinipphādeyya, yatassa cīvaracetāpannaṁ ābhataṁ tattha sāmaṁ vā gantabbaṁ dūto vā pāhetabbo—If he does not get robe-cloth, he should go to the owner of that robe fund, or send a message, saying,2.2.13“yaṁ kho tumhe, āyasmanto, bhikkhuṁ uddissa cīvaracetāpannaṁ pahiṇittha na taṁ tassa bhikkhuno kiñci atthaṁ anubhoti.“That monk hasn’t received any benefit from the robe fund you sent for him.2.2.14Yuñjantāyasmanto sakaṁ, mā vo sakaṁ vinassā”ti.Please recover what’s yours, or it might perish.”

2.2.15Ayaṁ tattha sāmīcītiThis is the proper procedure:

2.2.16ayaṁ tattha anudhammatā.this is the right method.

2.3.0Permutations

2.3.1Atirekatikkhattuṁ codanāya atirekachakkhattuṁ ṭhānena atirekasaññī abhinipphādeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.If he prompts more than three times and stands more than six times, and he perceives it as more, and he gets robe-cloth, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.2.3.2Atirekatikkhattuṁ codanāya atirekachakkhattuṁ ṭhānena vematiko abhinipphādeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.If he prompts more than three times and stands more than six times, but he is unsure of it, and he gets robe-cloth, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.2.3.3Atirekatikkhattuṁ codanāya atirekachakkhattuṁ ṭhānena ūnakasaññī abhinipphādeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.If he prompts more than three times and stands more than six times, but he perceives it as less, and he gets robe-cloth, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

2.3.4Ūnakatikkhattuṁ codanāya ūnakachakkhattuṁ ṭhānena atirekasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he prompts less than three times and stands less than six times, but he perceives it as more, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.3.5Ūnakatikkhattuṁ codanāya ūnakachakkhattuṁ ṭhānena vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he prompts less than three times and stands less than six times, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.3.6Ūnakatikkhattuṁ codanāya ūnakachakkhattuṁ ṭhānena ūnakasaññī anāpatti.If he prompts less than three times and stands less than six times, and he perceives it as less, there is no offense.

2.4.0Non-offenses

2.4.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.4.2tikkhattuṁ codanāya, chakkhattuṁ ṭhānena,if he prompts three times and stands six times;2.4.3ūnakatikkhattuṁ codanāya, ūnakachakkhattuṁ ṭhānena,if he prompts less than three times and stands less than six times;2.4.4acodiyamāno deti,if it is given without prompting;2.4.5sāmikā codetvā denti,if the owners prompt and then it is given;⁴2.4.6ummattakassa,if he is insane;2.4.7ādikammikassāti.if he is the first offender.

2.4.8Rājasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dasamaṁ.The training rule on excessive prompting to get a robe, the tenth, is finished.

2.4.9Kathinavaggo paṭhamo.The first subchapter on the robe season is finished.

2.4.10TassuddānaṁThis is the summary:

2.4.11Ubbhataṁ kathinaṁ tīṇi,“Three on the ended robe season,2.4.12dhovanañca paṭiggaho;And washing, receiving;2.4.13Aññātakāni tīṇeva,Three on those who are unrelated,2.4.14ubhinnaṁ dūtakena cāti.Of both, and with messenger.”

10. Excessive prompting to get a robe