Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
The subchapter on plants Bhūtagāmavagga

19. The training rule on large dwellings 19. Mahallakavihārasikkhāpada

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Kosambī in Ghosita’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme. a government official who was Venerable Channa’s supporter was making him a dwelling. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmato channassa upaṭṭhāko mahāmatto āyasmato channassa vihāraṁ kārāpeti. When the dwelling was finished, Channa had it roofed and plastered over and over. Atha kho āyasmā channo katapariyositaṁ vihāraṁ punappunaṁ chādāpeti, punappunaṁ lepāpeti. Being overloaded, the dwelling collapsed. Atibhārito vihāro paripati. Then, while collecting grass and sticks, Channa spoiled the barley field belonging to a certain brahmin. Atha kho āyasmā channo tiṇañca kaṭṭhañca saṅkaḍḍhanto aññatarassa brāhmaṇassa yavakhettaṁ dūsesi. That brahmin complained and criticized him, Atha kho so brāhmaṇo ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“How can the venerables spoil my barley field?” “kathañhi nāma bhadantā amhākaṁ yavakhettaṁ dūsessantī”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of that brahmin, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tassa brāhmaṇassa ujjhāyantassa khiyyantassa vipācentassa. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized Channa, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Channa have a finished dwelling roofed and plastered over and over until it collapsed from overloading?” “kathañhi nāma āyasmā channo katapariyositaṁ vihāraṁ punappunaṁ chādāpessati, punappunaṁ lepāpessati, atibhārito vihāro paripatī”ti.

After rebuking him in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Channa: Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ channaṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, Channa, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, channa, katapariyositaṁ vihāraṁ punappunaṁ chādāpesi, punappunaṁ lepāpesi, atibhārito vihāro paripatī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked him … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish man, how could you do this? kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, katapariyositaṁ vihāraṁ punappunaṁ chādāpessasi, punappunaṁ lepāpessasi, atibhārito vihāro paripati. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Final ruling

‘When a monk is building a large dwelling, then standing where there are no cultivated plants, he may apply two or three layers of roofing material, taking it as far as the doorcase and using it for fixing the door and for treating the window openings. If he applies more than that, even if he stands where there are no cultivated plants, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Mahallakaṁ pana bhikkhunā vihāraṁ kārayamānena yāva dvārakosā aggaḷaṭṭhapanāya ālokasandhiparikammāya dvatticchadanassa pariyāyaṁ appaharite ṭhitena adhiṭṭhātabbaṁ. Tato ce uttari appaharitepi ṭhito adhiṭṭhaheyya pācittiyan”ti.

Definitions

A large dwelling: Mahallako nāma vihāro: one with an owner is what is meant. sassāmiko vuccati.
A dwelling: Vihāro nāma: plastered inside or plastered outside or plastered both inside and outside. ullitto vā hoti avalitto vā ullittāvalitto vā.
Is building: Kārayamānenāti: building it himself or having it built. karonto vā kārāpento vā.
As far as the doorcase: Yāva dvārakosāti: a distance of an arm’s reach next to the door frame. piṭṭhasaṅghāṭassa samantā hatthapāsā.
For fixing the door: Aggaḷaṭṭhapanāyāti: for the fixing of the door. dvāraṭṭhapanāya.
For treating the window openings: Ālokasandhiparikammāyāti: for treating the window openings there is white color, black color, and treating with red ocher; and there is making a garland pattern, a creeper pattern, a shark-teeth pattern, and the fivefold pattern. vātapānaparikammāya setavaṇṇaṁ kāḷavaṇṇaṁ gerukaparikammaṁ mālākammaṁ latākammaṁ makaradantakaṁ pañcapaṭikaṁ.
Standing where there are no cultivated plants, he may apply two or three layers of roofing material: Dvatticchadanassa pariyāyaṁ appaharite ṭhitena adhiṭṭhātabbanti—: cultivated plants: grain and vegetables; haritaṁ nāma pubbaṇṇaṁ aparaṇṇaṁ. if he applies it while standing where there are cultivated plants, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Sace harite ṭhito adhiṭṭhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. For someone covering by the line, after covering with two layers, he may ask for a third layer, and he should then leave. Maggena chādentassa dve magge adhiṭṭhahitvā tatiyaṁ maggaṁ āṇāpetvā pakkamitabbaṁ. For someone covering by the layer, after covering with two layers, he may ask for a third layer, and he should then leave. Pariyāyena chādentassa dve pariyāye adhiṭṭhahitvā tatiyaṁ pariyāyaṁ āṇāpetvā pakkamitabbaṁ.
If he applies more than that, even if he stands where there are no cultivated plants: Tato ce uttari appaharitepi ṭhito adhiṭṭhaheyyāti: if he is covering with bricks, then for every brick, he commits an offense entailing confession. iṭṭhakāya chādentassa iṭṭhakiṭṭhakāya āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is covering with slate, then for every piece of slate, he commits an offense entailing confession. Silāya chādentassa silāya silāya āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is covering with plaster, then for every lump, he commits an offense entailing confession. Sudhāya chādentassa piṇḍe piṇḍe āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is covering with grass, then for every handful, he commits an offense entailing confession. Tiṇena chādentassa karaḷe karaḷe āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is covering with leaves, then for every leaf, he commits an offense entailing confession. Paṇṇena chādentassa paṇṇe paṇṇe āpatti pācittiyassa.

Permutations

If it is more than two or three layers, and he perceives it as more, and he applies it, he commits an offense entailing confession. Atirekadvattipariyāye atirekasaññī adhiṭṭhāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is more than two or three layers, but he is unsure of it, and he applies it, he commits an offense entailing confession. Atirekadvattipariyāye vematiko adhiṭṭhāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is more than two or three layers, but he perceives it as less, and he applies it, he commits an offense entailing confession. Atirekadvattipariyāye ūnakasaññī adhiṭṭhāti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If it is less than two or three layers, but he perceives it as more, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ūnakadvattipariyāye atirekasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is less than two or three layers, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ūnakadvattipariyāye vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is less than two or three layers, and he perceives it as less, there is no offense. Ūnakadvattipariyāye ūnakasaññī, anāpatti.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if he applies two or three layers; dvattipariyāye, if he applies less than two or three layers; ūnakadvattipariyāye, if it is a shelter; leṇe, if it is a cave; guhāya, if it is a grass hut; tiṇakuṭikāya, if it is for the benefit of someone else; aññassatthāya, if it is by means of his own property; attano dhanena, if it is anything apart from a dwelling; vāsāgāraṁ ṭhapetvā sabbattha anāpatti, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.

The training rule on large dwellings, the ninth, is finished. Mahallakavihārasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ.

English Translation

Pāli Text

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law
The Great Analysis
The chapter on offenses entailing confession
The subchapter on plants

19. The training rule on large dwellings

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Kosambī in Ghosita’s Monastery, a government official who was Venerable Channa’s supporter was making him a dwelling. When the dwelling was finished, Channa had it roofed and plastered over and over. Being overloaded, the dwelling collapsed. Then, while collecting grass and sticks, Channa spoiled the barley field belonging to a certain brahmin. That brahmin complained and criticized him, “How can the venerables spoil my barley field?”

The monks heard the complaints of that brahmin, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized Channa, “How could Venerable Channa have a finished dwelling roofed and plastered over and over until it collapsed from overloading?”

After rebuking him in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Channa: “Is it true, Channa, that you did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked him … “Foolish man, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

Definitions

A large dwelling:: one with an owner is what is meant.
A dwelling:: plastered inside or plastered outside or plastered both inside and outside.
Is building:: building it himself or having it built.
As far as the doorcase:: a distance of an arm’s reach next to the door frame.
For fixing the door:: for the fixing of the door.
For treating the window openings:: for treating the window openings there is white color, black color, and treating with red ocher; and there is making a garland pattern, a creeper pattern, a shark-teeth pattern, and the fivefold pattern.
Standing where there are no cultivated plants, he may apply two or three layers of roofing material:: cultivated plants: grain and vegetables; if he applies it while standing where there are cultivated plants, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. For someone covering by the line, after covering with two layers, he may ask for a third layer, and he should then leave. For someone covering by the layer, after covering with two layers, he may ask for a third layer, and he should then leave.
If he applies more than that, even if he stands where there are no cultivated plants:: if he is covering with bricks, then for every brick, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is covering with slate, then for every piece of slate, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is covering with plaster, then for every lump, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is covering with grass, then for every handful, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is covering with leaves, then for every leaf, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is more than two or three layers, and he perceives it as more, and he applies it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is more than two or three layers, but he is unsure of it, and he applies it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is more than two or three layers, but he perceives it as less, and he applies it, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is less than two or three layers, but he perceives it as more, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is less than two or three layers, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is less than two or three layers, and he perceives it as less, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he applies two or three layers; if he applies less than two or three layers; if it is a shelter; if it is a cave; if it is a grass hut; if it is for the benefit of someone else; if it is by means of his own property; if it is anything apart from a dwelling; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on large dwellings, the ninth, is finished.

Theravāda Vinaya
Mahāvibhaṅga
Pācittiyakaṇḍa
Bhūtagāmavagga

19. Mahallakavihārasikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmato channassa upaṭṭhāko mahāmatto āyasmato channassa vihāraṁ kārāpeti. Atha kho āyasmā channo katapariyositaṁ vihāraṁ punappunaṁ chādāpeti, punappunaṁ lepāpeti. Atibhārito vihāro paripati. Atha kho āyasmā channo tiṇañca kaṭṭhañca saṅkaḍḍhanto aññatarassa brāhmaṇassa yavakhettaṁ dūsesi. Atha kho so brāhmaṇo ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“kathañhi nāma bhadantā amhākaṁ yavakhettaṁ dūsessantī”ti.

Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tassa brāhmaṇassa ujjhāyantassa khiyyantassa vipācentassa. Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“kathañhi nāma āyasmā channo katapariyositaṁ vihāraṁ punappunaṁ chādāpessati, punappunaṁ lepāpessati, atibhārito vihāro paripatī”ti.

Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ channaṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, channa, katapariyositaṁ vihāraṁ punappunaṁ chādāpesi, punappunaṁ lepāpesi, atibhārito vihāro paripatī”ti?

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, katapariyositaṁ vihāraṁ punappunaṁ chādāpessasi, punappunaṁ lepāpessasi, atibhārito vihāro paripati. Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

“Mahallakaṁ pana bhikkhunā vihāraṁ kārayamānena yāva dvārakosā aggaḷaṭṭhapanāya ālokasandhiparikammāya dvatticchadanassa pariyāyaṁ appaharite ṭhitena adhiṭṭhātabbaṁ. Tato ce uttari appaharitepi ṭhito adhiṭṭhaheyya pācittiyan”ti.

Mahallako nāma vihāro: sassāmiko vuccati.
Vihāro nāma: ullitto vā hoti avalitto vā ullittāvalitto vā.
Kārayamānenāti: karonto vā kārāpento vā.
Yāva dvārakosāti: piṭṭhasaṅghāṭassa samantā hatthapāsā.
Aggaḷaṭṭhapanāyāti: dvāraṭṭhapanāya.
Ālokasandhiparikammāyāti: vātapānaparikammāya setavaṇṇaṁ kāḷavaṇṇaṁ gerukaparikammaṁ mālākammaṁ latākammaṁ makaradantakaṁ pañcapaṭikaṁ.
Dvatticchadanassa pariyāyaṁ appaharite ṭhitena adhiṭṭhātabbanti—: haritaṁ nāma pubbaṇṇaṁ aparaṇṇaṁ. Sace harite ṭhito adhiṭṭhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Maggena chādentassa dve magge adhiṭṭhahitvā tatiyaṁ maggaṁ āṇāpetvā pakkamitabbaṁ. Pariyāyena chādentassa dve pariyāye adhiṭṭhahitvā tatiyaṁ pariyāyaṁ āṇāpetvā pakkamitabbaṁ.
Tato ce uttari appaharitepi ṭhito adhiṭṭhaheyyāti: iṭṭhakāya chādentassa iṭṭhakiṭṭhakāya āpatti pācittiyassa. Silāya chādentassa silāya silāya āpatti pācittiyassa. Sudhāya chādentassa piṇḍe piṇḍe āpatti pācittiyassa. Tiṇena chādentassa karaḷe karaḷe āpatti pācittiyassa. Paṇṇena chādentassa paṇṇe paṇṇe āpatti pācittiyassa.

Atirekadvattipariyāye atirekasaññī adhiṭṭhāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Atirekadvattipariyāye vematiko adhiṭṭhāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Atirekadvattipariyāye ūnakasaññī adhiṭṭhāti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Ūnakadvattipariyāye atirekasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Ūnakadvattipariyāye vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Ūnakadvattipariyāye ūnakasaññī, anāpatti.

Anāpatti—dvattipariyāye, ūnakadvattipariyāye, leṇe, guhāya, tiṇakuṭikāya, aññassatthāya, attano dhanena, vāsāgāraṁ ṭhapetvā sabbattha anāpatti, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.

Mahallakavihārasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ.

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
The subchapter on plants Bhūtagāmavagga

19. The training rule on large dwellings 19. Mahallakavihārasikkhāpada

Origin story

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

Final ruling

Definitions

A large dwelling: Mahallako nāma vihāro: one with an owner is what is meant. sassāmiko vuccati.
A dwelling: Vihāro nāma: plastered inside or plastered outside or plastered both inside and outside. ullitto vā hoti avalitto vā ullittāvalitto vā.
Is building: Kārayamānenāti: building it himself or having it built. karonto vā kārāpento vā.
As far as the doorcase: Yāva dvārakosāti: a distance of an arm’s reach next to the door frame. piṭṭhasaṅghāṭassa samantā hatthapāsā.
For fixing the door: Aggaḷaṭṭhapanāyāti: for the fixing of the door. dvāraṭṭhapanāya.
For treating the window openings: Ālokasandhiparikammāyāti: for treating the window openings there is white color, black color, and treating with red ocher; and there is making a garland pattern, a creeper pattern, a shark-teeth pattern, and the fivefold pattern. vātapānaparikammāya setavaṇṇaṁ kāḷavaṇṇaṁ gerukaparikammaṁ mālākammaṁ latākammaṁ makaradantakaṁ pañcapaṭikaṁ.
Standing where there are no cultivated plants, he may apply two or three layers of roofing material: Dvatticchadanassa pariyāyaṁ appaharite ṭhitena adhiṭṭhātabbanti—: cultivated plants: grain and vegetables; haritaṁ nāma pubbaṇṇaṁ aparaṇṇaṁ. if he applies it while standing where there are cultivated plants, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Sace harite ṭhito adhiṭṭhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. For someone covering by the line, after covering with two layers, he may ask for a third layer, and he should then leave. Maggena chādentassa dve magge adhiṭṭhahitvā tatiyaṁ maggaṁ āṇāpetvā pakkamitabbaṁ. For someone covering by the layer, after covering with two layers, he may ask for a third layer, and he should then leave. Pariyāyena chādentassa dve pariyāye adhiṭṭhahitvā tatiyaṁ pariyāyaṁ āṇāpetvā pakkamitabbaṁ.
If he applies more than that, even if he stands where there are no cultivated plants: Tato ce uttari appaharitepi ṭhito adhiṭṭhaheyyāti: if he is covering with bricks, then for every brick, he commits an offense entailing confession. iṭṭhakāya chādentassa iṭṭhakiṭṭhakāya āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is covering with slate, then for every piece of slate, he commits an offense entailing confession. Silāya chādentassa silāya silāya āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is covering with plaster, then for every lump, he commits an offense entailing confession. Sudhāya chādentassa piṇḍe piṇḍe āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is covering with grass, then for every handful, he commits an offense entailing confession. Tiṇena chādentassa karaḷe karaḷe āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is covering with leaves, then for every leaf, he commits an offense entailing confession. Paṇṇena chādentassa paṇṇe paṇṇe āpatti pācittiyassa.

Permutations

Non-offenses

The training rule on large dwellings, the ninth, is finished. Mahallakavihārasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ.