1.0.1Origin story

1.0.2First substory

1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.At one time when the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove,1.2Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū tapode nahāyanti.the monks were bathing in the hot springs.1.3PTS 4.117Tena kho pana samayena rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro “sīsaṁ nahāyissāmī”ti tapodaṁ gantvā—Just then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha went to the hot springs, intending to wash his hair.1.4“yāvāyyā nahāyantī”ti ekamantaṁ paṭimānesi. Bhikkhū yāva samandhakārā nahāyiṁsu.He waited respectfully for the monks to finish, but they kept on bathing until dark.1.5Atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro vikāle sīsaṁ nahāyitvā, nagaradvāre thakite bahinagare vasitvā, kālasseva asambhinnena vilepanena yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami;Only then was King Bimbisāra able to wash his hair. And because the town gates had been shut, he had to spend the night outside the city.

1.6upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.In the morning, with his make-up still on, he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down.¹1.7Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho rājānaṁ māgadhaṁ seniyaṁ bimbisāraṁ bhagavā etadavoca—“kissa tvaṁ, mahārāja, kālasseva āgato asambhinnena vilepanenā”ti?The Buddha said to him, “Great king, why have you come so early in the morning, with your make-up still on?”1.8Atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesi.The king told him what had happened.1.9Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ māgadhaṁ seniyaṁ bimbisāraṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi. Atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.The Buddha then instructed, inspired, and gladdened him with a teaching, after which the king got up from his seat, bowed down, circumambulated the Buddha with his right side toward him, and left.

1.10Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṅghaṁ sannipātāpetvā bhikkhū paṭipucchi—Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks:1.11“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū rājānampi passitvā na mattaṁ jānitvā nahāyantī”ti?“Is it true, monks, that monks bathed without moderation, even after seeing the king?”

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

1.13Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.14kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā rājānampi passitvā na mattaṁ jānitvā nahāyissanti.“How could those foolish men act in this way?1.15Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.16evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

1.17.0First preliminary ruling

1.17.1“Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, pācittiyan”ti.‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

1.18Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

2.0Second substory

2.1Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū uṇhasamaye pariḷāhasamaye kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti, sedagatena gattena sayanti.Soon afterwards, because they were afraid of wrongdoing, the monks did not bathe when it was hot or when they had a fever, and they went to sleep covered in sweat.2.2Cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati.As a consequence, their robes and beds got dirty.2.3Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…They told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

2.4anujānāmi, bhikkhave, uṇhasamaye pariḷāhasamaye orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyituṁ.“Monks, if it’s hot or you have a fever, I allow you to bathe at intervals of less than a half-month.

2.5Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

2.6.0Second preliminary ruling

2.6.1“Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ.‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.2.7Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo pariḷāhasamayo—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.This is the appropriate occasion: it is the two-and-a-half-month period of summer and the fever season, comprising the last one-and-a-half months of summer and the first month of the rainy season.’”

2.8PTS 4.118Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

3.0Third substory

3.1Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū gilānā honti.Soon afterwards some monks were sick.3.2Gilānapucchakā bhikkhū gilāne bhikkhū etadavocuṁ—The monks who were looking after them asked, 3.3“kaccāvuso, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyan”ti?“I hope you’re bearing up? I hope you’re getting better?”

3.4“Pubbe mayaṁ, āvuso, orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyāma, tena no phāsu hoti;“Previously we bathed at intervals of less than a half-month, and then we were comfortable.3.5idāni pana ‘bhagavatā paṭikkhittan’ti kukkuccāyantā na nahāyāma, tena no na phāsu hotī”ti.But now that the Buddha has prohibited this, we don’t bathe because we’re afraid of wrongdoing. Because of that we’re not comfortable.”

3.6Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…They told the Buddha. …

3.7anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānena bhikkhunā orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyituṁ.“Monks, I allow a sick monk to bathe at intervals of less than a half-month.

3.8Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

3.9.0Third preliminary ruling

3.9.1“Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ.‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.10Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.These are the appropriate occasions: it is the two-and-a-half-month period of summer and the fever season, comprising the last one-and-a-half months of summer and the first month of the rainy season; he is sick.’”

3.11Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

4.0Fourth substory

4.1Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū navakammaṁ katvā kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti.Soon afterwards the monks were doing building work, but because they were afraid of wrongdoing they did not bathe.4.2Te sedagatena gattena sayanti. Cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati.As a consequence, they went to sleep covered in sweat, and their robes and beds got dirty.4.3Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…They told the Buddha. …

4.4anujānāmi, bhikkhave, kammasamaye orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyituṁ.“Monks, I allow you to bathe at intervals of less than a half-month when you’re working.

4.5Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

4.6.0Fourth preliminary ruling

4.6.1“Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ.‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.4.7Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo, kammasamayo—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.These are the appropriate occasions: it is the two-and-a-half-month period of summer and the fever season, comprising the last one-and-a-half months of summer and the first month of the rainy season; he is sick; he is working.’”

4.8Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

5.0Fifth substory

5.1Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū addhānaṁ gantvā kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti.Soon afterwards the monks were traveling, but because they were afraid of wrongdoing they did not bathe.5.2Te sedagatena gattena sayanti. Cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati.As a consequence, they went to sleep covered in sweat, and their robes and beds got dirty.5.3Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…They told the Buddha. …

5.4anujānāmi, bhikkhave, addhānagamanasamaye orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyituṁ.“Monks, I allow you to bathe at intervals of less than a half-month when you’re traveling.

5.5Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

5.6.0Fifth preliminary ruling

5.6.1“Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ.‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.5.7Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo, kammasamayo, addhānagamanasamayo—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.These are the appropriate occasions: it is the two-and-a-half-month period of summer and the fever season, comprising the last one-and-a-half months of summer and the first month of the rainy season; he is sick; he is working; he is traveling.’”

5.8Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

6.0Sixth substory

6.1Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū ajjhokāse cīvarakammaṁ karontā sarajena vātena okiṇṇā honti. Devo ca thokaṁ thokaṁ phusāyati.Soon afterwards a number of monks were making robes out in the open, when they were hit by dusty winds and fine rain.6.2Bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti, kilinnena gattena sayanti.But because they were afraid of wrongdoing, they did not bathe afterwards, and they went to sleep while still wet.6.3PTS 4.119Cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati.As a consequence, their robes and beds got dirty.6.4Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…They told the Buddha. …

6.5anujānāmi, bhikkhave, vātavuṭṭhisamaye orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyituṁ.“Monks, if there is wind and rain, I allow you to bathe at intervals of less than a half-month.

6.6Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: