1.1.0Origin story

1.1.1PTS 3.180Tena 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 assajipunabbasukā nāma kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāsikā honti alajjino pāpabhikkhū.At that time the bad and shameless monks Assaji and Punabbasuka were staying at Kīṭāgiri.1.1.3Te evarūpaṁ anācāraṁ ācaranti—They were misbehaving in many ways.

1.1.4mālāvacchaṁ ropentipi ropāpentipi, siñcantipi siñcāpentipi, ocinantipi ocināpentipi, ganthentipi ganthāpentipi,They planted flowering trees, watered and plucked them, and then tied the flowers together.1.1.5ekatovaṇṭikamālaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi, ubhatovaṇṭikamālaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi,They made the flowers into garlands, garlands with stalks on one side and garlands with stalks on both sides.1.1.6mañjarikaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi, vidhūtikaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi, vaṭaṁsakaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi, āveḷaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi, uracchadaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi.They made flower arrangements, wreaths, ornaments for the head, ornaments for the ears, and ornaments for the chest. And they had others do the same.1.1.7Te kulitthīnaṁ kuladhītānaṁ kulakumārīnaṁ kulasuṇhānaṁ kuladāsīnaṁ ekatovaṇṭikamālaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, ubhatovaṇṭikamālaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, mañjarikaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, vidhūtikaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, vaṭaṁsakaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, āveḷaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, uracchadaṁ harantipi harāpentipi.They then took these things, or sent them, to the women, the daughters, the girls, the daughters-in-law, and the female slaves of respectable families.

1.1.8Te kulitthīhi kuladhītāhi kulakumārīhi kulasuṇhāhi kuladāsīhi saddhiṁ ekabhājanepi bhuñjanti, ekathālakepi pivanti,They ate from the same plates as these women and drank from the same vessels.1.1.9ekāsanepi nisīdanti, ekamañcepi tuvaṭṭenti, ekattharaṇāpi tuvaṭṭenti, ekapāvuraṇāpi tuvaṭṭenti, ekattharaṇapāvuraṇāpi tuvaṭṭenti,They sat on the same seats as them, and they lay down on the same beds, on the same sheets, under the same covers, and both on the same sheets and under the same covers.1.1.10vikālepi bhuñjanti, majjampi pivanti, mālāgandhavilepanampi dhārenti,They ate at the wrong time, drank alcohol, and wore garlands, perfumes, and cosmetics.1.1.11naccantipi gāyantipi vādentipi lāsentipi,They danced, sang, played instruments, and performed.1.1.12naccantiyāpi naccanti, naccantiyāpi gāyanti, naccantiyāpi vādenti, naccantiyāpi lāsenti, gāyantiyāpi naccanti, gāyantiyāpi gāyanti, gāyantiyāpi vādenti, gāyantiyāpi lāsenti, vādentiyāpi naccanti, vādentiyāpi gāyanti, vādentiyāpi vādenti, vādentiyāpi lāsenti, lāsentiyāpi naccanti, lāsentiyāpi gāyanti, lāsentiyāpi vādenti, lāsentiyāpi lāsenti;While the women were dancing, singing, playing instruments, and performing, so would they.

1.2.1aṭṭhapadepi kīḷanti, dasapadepi kīḷanti, ākāsepi kīḷanti, parihārapathepi kīḷanti, santikāyapi kīḷanti, khalikāyapi kīḷanti, ghaṭikāyapi kīḷanti, salākahatthenapi kīḷanti, akkhenapi kīḷanti, paṅgacīrenapi kīḷanti, vaṅkakenapi kīḷanti, mokkhacikāyapi kīḷanti, ciṅgulakenapi kīḷanti, pattāḷhakenapi kīḷanti, rathakenapi kīḷanti, dhanukenapi kīḷanti, akkharikāyapi kīḷanti, manesikāyapi kīḷanti, yathāvajjenapi kīḷanti.They played various games: eight-row checkers, ten-row checkers, imaginary checkers, hopscotch, pick-up-sticks, board games, tipcat, painting with the hand, dice, leaf flutes, toy plows, somersaults, pinwheels, toy measures, toy carriages, toy bows, guessing from syllables, thought guessing, mimicking deformities.

1.2.2Hatthismimpi sikkhanti, assasmimpi sikkhanti, rathasmimpi sikkhanti, dhanusmimpi sikkhanti, tharusmimpi sikkhanti,They trained in elephant riding, in horsemanship, in carriage riding, in archery, in swordsmanship.1.2.3hatthissapi purato dhāvanti, assassapi purato dhāvanti, rathassapi purato dhāvantipi ādhāvantipi,And they ran in front of elephants, horses, and carriages, and they ran backward and forward.1.2.4usseḷentipi, apphoṭentipi, nibbujjhantipi, muṭṭhīhipi yujjhanti,They whistled, clapped their hands, wrestled, and boxed.1.2.5raṅgamajjhepi saṅghāṭiṁ pattharitvā naccakiṁ evaṁ vadanti—“idha, bhagini, naccassū”ti, nalāṭikampi denti, vividhampi anācāraṁ ācaranti.They spread their outer robe on a stage and said to the dancing girls, “Dance here, sister,” and they made gestures of approval. And they misbehaved in a variety of ways.

1.3.1PTS 3.181Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu kāsīsu vassaṁvuṭṭho sāvatthiṁ gacchanto bhagavantaṁ dassanāya, yena kīṭāgiri tadavasari.Just then a monk who had completed the rainy-season residence in Kāsi was on his way to visit the Buddha at Sāvatthī when he arrived at Kīṭāgiri.1.3.2Atha kho so bhikkhu pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya kīṭāgiriṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiIn the morning he robed up, took his bowl and robe, and entered Kīṭāgiri to collect almsfood.1.3.3pāsādikena abhikkantena paṭikkantena ālokitena vilokitena samiñjitena pasāritena okkhittacakkhu iriyāpathasampanno.He was pleasing in his conduct: in going out and coming back, in looking ahead and looking aside, in bending and stretching his arms. His eyes were lowered, and he was perfect in deportment.1.3.4Manussā taṁ bhikkhuṁ passitvā evamāhaṁsu—“kvāyaṁ abalabalo viya mandamando viya bhākuṭikabhākuṭiko viya? Ko imassa upagatassa piṇḍakaṁ dassati? Amhākaṁ pana ayyā assajipunabbasukā saṇhā sakhilā sukhasambhāsā mihitapubbaṅgamā ehisvāgatavādino abbhākuṭikā uttānamukhā pubbabhāsino. Tesaṁ kho nāma piṇḍo dātabbo”ti.When people saw him, they said, “Who’s this, acting like a moron and always frowning? Who’s gonna give almsfood to him? Almsfood should be given to our Venerables Assaji and Punabbasuka, for they’re gentle, congenial, pleasant to speak with, greeting one with a smile, welcoming, friendly, open, the first to speak.”

1.3.5Addasā kho aññataro upāsako taṁ bhikkhuṁ kīṭāgirismiṁ piṇḍāya carantaṁ.A certain lay follower saw that monk walking for alms in Kīṭāgiri.1.3.6Disvāna yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ abhivādetvā etadavoca—“api, bhante, piṇḍo labbhatī”ti?He approached him, bowed, and said, “Venerable, have you received any almsfood?”

1.3.7“Na kho, āvuso, piṇḍo labbhatī”ti.“No, I haven’t.”

1.3.8“Ehi, bhante, gharaṁ gamissāmā”ti.“Come, let’s go to my house.”

1.4.1Atha kho so upāsako taṁ bhikkhuṁ gharaṁ netvā bhojetvā etadavoca—He took that monk to his house and gave him a meal.1.4.2“kahaṁ, bhante, ayyo gamissatī”ti?He then said, “Where are you going, venerable?”

1.4.3“Sāvatthiṁ kho ahaṁ, āvuso, gamissāmi bhagavantaṁ dassanāyā”ti.“I’m going to Sāvatthī to see the Buddha.”

1.4.4“Tena hi, bhante, mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vanda, evañca vadehi—“Well then, would you please pay respect at the Buddha’s feet in my name and say,1.4.5‘duṭṭho, bhante, kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāso.‘Sir, the monastery at Kīṭāgiri has been corrupted.1.4.6Assajipunabbasukā nāma kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāsikā alajjino pāpabhikkhū.The bad and shameless monks Assaji and Punabbasuka are staying there.1.4.7Te evarūpaṁ anācāraṁ ācaranti—And they’re misbehaving in many ways.1.4.8mālāvacchaṁ ropentipi ropāpentipi, siñcantipi siñcāpentipi …pe… vividhampi anācāraṁ ācaranti.They plant flowering trees, water them … And they misbehave in a variety of ways.1.4.9Yepi te, bhante, manussā pubbe saddhā ahesuṁ pasannā tepi etarahi assaddhā appasannā.Those who previously had faith and confidence have now lost it,1.4.10Yānipi tāni saṅghassa pubbe dānapathāni tānipi etarahi upacchinnāni.and there’s no longer any support for the Sangha.1.4.11Riñcanti pesalā bhikkhū, nivasanti pāpabhikkhū.The good monks have left and the bad monks are staying on.1.4.12Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā kīṭāgiriṁ bhikkhū pahiṇeyya yathāyaṁ kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāso saṇṭhaheyyā’”ti.Sir, please send monks to stay at the monastery at Kīṭāgiri.’”

1.5.1PTS 3.182“Evamāvuso”ti kho so bhikkhu tassa upāsakassa paṭissutvā yena sāvatthi tena pakkāmi.The monk agreed, got up, and set out for Sāvatthī.1.5.2Anupubbena yena sāvatthi jetavanaṁ anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāmo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.When he eventually arrived, he went to the Buddha in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. He bowed to the Buddha and sat down.1.5.3Āciṇṇaṁ kho panetaṁ buddhānaṁ bhagavantānaṁ āgantukehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ paṭisammodituṁ.Since it is the custom for Buddhas to greet newly-arrived monks,1.5.4Atha kho bhagavā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca—the Buddha said to him,1.5.5“kacci, bhikkhu, khamanīyaṁ kacci yāpanīyaṁ,“I hope you’re keeping well, monk, I hope you’re getting by? 1.5.6kaccisi appakilamathena addhānaṁ āgato,I hope you’re not tired from traveling? 1.5.7kuto ca tvaṁ, bhikkhu, āgacchasī”ti?And where have you come from?”

1.5.8“Khamanīyaṁ, bhagavā, yāpanīyaṁ, bhagavā.“I’m keeping well, sir, I’m getting by. 1.5.9Appakilamathena cāhaṁ, bhante, addhānaṁ āgato.I’m not tired from traveling.”1.5.10Idhāhaṁ, bhante, kāsīsu vassaṁvuṭṭho sāvatthiṁ āgacchanto bhagavantaṁ dassanāya yena kīṭāgiri tadavasariṁ.He then told the Buddha all that had happened at Kīṭāgiri,1.5.11Atha khvāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya kīṭāgiriṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.1.5.12Addasā kho maṁ, bhante, aññataro upāsako kīṭāgirismiṁ piṇḍāya carantaṁ.1.5.13Disvāna yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā etadavoca—‘api, bhante, piṇḍo labbhatī’ti?

1.5.14‘Na kho, āvuso, piṇḍo labbhatī’ti.

1.5.15‘Ehi, bhante, gharaṁ gamissāmā’ti.

1.5.16Atha kho, bhante, so upāsako maṁ gharaṁ netvā bhojetvā etadavoca—1.5.17‘kahaṁ, bhante, ayyo gamissatī’ti?

1.5.18‘Sāvatthiṁ kho ahaṁ, āvuso, gamissāmi bhagavantaṁ dassanāyā’ti.

1.5.19Tena hi, bhante, mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vanda, evañca vadehi—1.5.20‘duṭṭho, bhante, kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāso,1.5.21assajipunabbasukā nāma kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāsikā alajjino pāpabhikkhū.1.5.22Te evarūpaṁ anācāraṁ ācaranti—1.5.23mālāvacchaṁ ropentipi ropāpentipi, siñcantipi siñcāpentipi …pe… vividhampi anācāraṁ ācaranti.1.5.24Yepi te, bhante, manussā pubbe saddhā ahesuṁ pasannā tepi etarahi assaddhā appasannā,1.5.25yānipi tāni saṅghassa pubbe dānapathāni tānipi etarahi upacchinnāni,1.5.26riñcanti pesalā bhikkhū nivasanti pāpabhikkhū.1.5.27Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā kīṭāgiriṁ bhikkhū pahiṇeyya yathāyaṁ kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāso saṇṭhaheyyā’ti.1.5.28Tato ahaṁ, bhagavā, āgacchāmī”ti.adding, “That’s where I’ve come from, sir.”

1.6.1Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṅghaṁ sannipātāpetvā bhikkhū paṭipucchi—Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks:1.6.2“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, assajipunabbasukā nāma kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāsikā alajjino pāpabhikkhū te evarūpaṁ anācāraṁ ācaranti—“Is it true, monks, that the bad and shameless monks Assaji and Punabbasuka are staying at Kīṭāgiri and misbehaving in this way?1.6.3mālāvacchaṁ ropentipi ropāpentipi, siñcantipi siñcāpentipi …pe… vividhampi anācāraṁ ācaranti,1.6.4yepi te, bhikkhave, manussā pubbe saddhā ahesuṁ pasannā tepi etarahi assaddhā appasannā;And is it true that those people who previously had faith and confidence have now lost it,1.6.5yānipi tāni saṅghassa pubbe dānapathāni tānipi etarahi upacchinnāni;that there’s no longer any support for the Sangha,1.6.6riñcanti pesalā bhikkhū nivasanti pāpabhikkhū”ti?and that the good monks have left and the bad monks are staying on?”

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

1.6.8Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.6.9kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā evarūpaṁ anācāraṁ ācarissanti—“Monks, how can those foolish men misbehave in this way?1.6.10mālāvacchaṁ ropessantipi ropāpessantipi, sañcissantipi siñcāpessantipi, ocinissantipi ocināpessantipi, ganthissantipi ganthāpessantipi,1.6.11ekatovaṇṭikamālaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi, ubhatovaṇṭikamālaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi,1.6.12mañjarikaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi, vidhūtikaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi, vaṭaṁsakaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi, āveḷaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi, uracchadaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi.1.6.13Te kulitthīnaṁ kuladhītānaṁ kulakumārīnaṁ kulasuṇhānaṁ kuladāsīnaṁ ekatovaṇṭikamālaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, ubhatovaṇṭikamālaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, mañjarikaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, vidhūtikaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, vaṭaṁsakaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, āveḷaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, uracchadaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi.1.6.14Te kulitthīhi kuladhītāhi kulakumārīhi kulasuṇhāhi kuladāsīhi saddhiṁ ekabhājanepi bhuñjissanti, ekathālakepi pivissanti, ekāsanepi nisīdissanti, ekamañcepi tuvaṭṭissanti, ekattharaṇāpi tuvaṭṭissanti, ekapāvuraṇāpi tuvaṭṭissanti, ekattharaṇapāvuraṇāpi tuvaṭṭissanti,1.6.15vikālepi bhuñjissanti, majjampi pivissanti, mālāgandhavilepanampi dhārissanti1.6.16naccissantipi gāyissantipi vādessantipi lāsessantipi,1.6.17naccantiyāpi naccissanti naccantiyāpi gāyissanti naccantiyāpi vādessanti naccantiyāpi lāsessanti, gāyantiyāpi naccissanti gāyantiyāpi gāyissanti gāyantiyāpi vādessanti gāyantiyāpi lāsessanti, vādentiyāpi naccissanti vādentiyāpi gāyissanti vādentiyāpi vādessanti vādentiyāpi lāsessanti, lāsentiyāpi naccissanti lāsentiyāpi gāyissanti lāsentiyāpi vādessanti lāsentiyāpi lāsessanti

1.6.18aṭṭhapadepi kīḷissanti dasapadepi kīḷissanti, ākāsepi kīḷissanti, parihārapathepi kīḷissanti, santikāyapi kīḷissanti, khalikāyapi kīḷissanti, ghaṭikāyapi kīḷissanti, salākahatthenapi kīḷissanti, akkhenapi kīḷissanti, paṅgacīrenapi kīḷissanti, vaṅkakenapi kīḷissanti, mokkhacikāyapi kīḷissanti, ciṅgulakenapi kīḷissanti, pattāḷhakenapi kīḷissanti, rathakenapi kīḷissanti, dhanukenapi kīḷissanti, akkharikāyapi kīḷissanti, manesikāyapi kīḷissanti, yathāvajjenapi kīḷissanti,

1.6.19hatthismimpi sikkhissanti, assasmimpi sikkhissanti, rathasmimpi sikkhissanti, dhanusmimpi sikkhissanti, tharusmimpi sikkhissanti,1.6.20hatthissapi purato dhāvissanti, assassapi purato dhāvissanti, rathassapi purato dhāvissantipi ādhāvissantipi1.6.21usseḷessantipi, apphoṭessantipi, nibbujjhissantipi, muṭṭhīhipi yujjhissanti,1.6.22raṅgamajjhepi saṅghāṭiṁ pattharitvā naccakiṁ evaṁ vakkhanti “idha, bhagini, naccassū”ti nalāṭikampi dassanti, vividhampi anācāraṁ ācarissanti.1.6.23Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …”1.6.24vigarahitvā dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā sāriputtamoggallāne āmantesi—He then gave a teaching and addressed Sāriputta and Moggallāna:1.6.25“gacchatha tumhe, sāriputtā, kīṭāgiriṁ gantvā assajipunabbasukānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ kīṭāgirismā pabbājanīyakammaṁ karotha. Tumhākaṁ ete saddhivihārikā”ti.“Go to Kīṭāgiri and do a legal procedure of banishment from Kīṭāgiri against the monks Assaji and Punabbasuka. They’re your students.”

1.6.26PTS 3.183“Kathaṁ mayaṁ, bhante, assajipunabbasukānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ kīṭāgirismā pabbājanīyakammaṁ karoma? Caṇḍā te bhikkhū pharusā”ti.∥“Sir, how can we do a procedure of banishment against these monks? They’re temperamental and harsh.”

1.6.27“Tena hi tumhe, sāriputtā, bahukehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ gacchathā”ti.“Well then, take many monks.”

1.6.28“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho sāriputtamoggallānā bhagavato paccassosuṁ.“Yes, sir.”

1.7.1“Evañca pana, bhikkhave, kātabbaṁ.“And, monks, this is how it should be done.1.7.2Paṭhamaṁ assajipunabbasukā bhikkhū codetabbā.First you should accuse the monks Assaji and Punabbasuka.1.7.3Codetvā sāretabbā. Sāretvā āpattiṁ ropetabbā.They should then be reminded of what they’ve done, before they’re charged with an offense.1.7.4Āpattiṁ ropetvā byattena bhikkhunā paṭibalena saṅgho ñāpetabbo—A competent and capable monk should then inform the Sangha:

1.8.1PTS 3.184Atha kho sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho kīṭāgiriṁ gantvā assajipunabbasukānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ kīṭāgirismā pabbājanīyakammaṁ akāsi—“na assajipunabbasukehi bhikkhūhi kīṭāgirismiṁ vatthabban”ti.Soon afterwards a sangha of monks, headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna, went to Kīṭāgiri and did the procedure of banishment against Assaji and Punabbasuka, prohibiting them from staying at Kīṭāgiri.1.8.2Te saṅghena pabbājanīyakammakatā na sammā vattanti, na lomaṁ pātenti, na netthāraṁ vattanti, na bhikkhū khamāpenti, akkosanti paribhāsanti chandagāmitā dosagāmitā mohagāmitā bhayagāmitā pāpenti, pakkamantipi, vibbhamantipi.Even so, they did not conduct themselves properly or suitably so as to deserve to be released, nor did they ask the monks for forgiveness. Instead they abused and reviled them, and they slandered them as acting from favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear. And they left and they disrobed.¹1.8.3Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The monks of few desires complained and criticized them,1.8.4“kathañhi nāma assajipunabbasukā bhikkhū saṅghena pabbājanīyakammakatā na sammā vattissanti, na lomaṁ pātessanti, na netthāraṁ vattissanti, na bhikkhū khamāpessanti, akkosissanti paribhāsissanti, chandagāmitā dosagāmitā mohagāmitā bhayagāmitā pāpessanti pakkamissantipi vibbhamissantipī”ti.“How can these monks act like this when the Sangha has done a legal procedure of banishment against them?”

1.8.5Atha kho te bhikkhū assajipunabbasuke bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…They rebuked the monks Assaji and Punabbasuka in many ways and then told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks:1.8.6“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, assajipunabbasukā bhikkhū saṅghena pabbājanīyakammakatā na sammā vattanti …pe… vibbhamantipī”ti?“Is it true, monks, that the monks Assaji and Punabbasuka acted like this?”1.8.7“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.“It’s true, sir.”

1.8.8Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.8.9evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: