Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time the monks from the group of six ate rice and bean curry that they had requested themselves. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū sūpampi odanampi attano atthāya viññāpetvā bhuñjanti. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the Sakyan monastics eat rice and bean curry that they have requested themselves? “kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā sūpampi odanampi attano atthāya viññāpetvā bhuñjissanti. Who doesn’t like nice food? Kassa sampannaṁ na manāpaṁ. Who doesn’t prefer tasty food?” Kassa sāduṁ na ruccatī”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of those people, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the monks from the group of six do this?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū sūpampi odanampi attano atthāya viññāpetvā bhuñjissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you do this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, sūpampi odanampi attano atthāya viññāpetvā bhuñjathā”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish men, how can you do this? kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, sūpampi odanampi attano atthāya viññāpetvā bhuñjissatha. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Preliminary ruling

‘“I will not request bean curry or rice for myself and then eat it,” this is how you should train.’” “Na sūpaṁ vā odanaṁ vā attano atthāya viññāpetvā bhuñjissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.

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

Second sub-story

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

“Previously we ate rice and bean curry that we had requested ourselves, and then we were comfortable. “Pubbe mayaṁ, āvuso, sūpampi odanampi attano atthāya viññāpetvā bhuñjāma, tena no phāsu hoti. But now Idāni pana—that the Buddha has prohibited this, we don’t ask because we’re afraid of wrongdoing. And because of that we’re not comfortable.” ‘bhagavatā paṭikkhittan’ti kukkuccāyantā na viññāpema, tena no na phāsu hotī”ti.

They told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

“Monks, I allow a sick monk to eat rice and bean curry that he has requested for himself. anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānena bhikkhunā sūpampi odanampi attano atthāya viññāpetvā bhuñjituṁ.

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