Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
The subchapter on drinking alcohol Surāpānavagga

51. The training rule on drinking alcoholic drinks 51. Surāpānasikkhāpada

Origin story

On one occasion when the Buddha was wandering in the country of Ceti on his way to Bhaddavatikā, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā cetiyesu cārikaṁ caramāno yena bhaddavatikā tena pāyāsi. he was seen by a number of cowherds, shepherds, farmers, and travelers. Addasaṁsu kho gopālakā pasupālakā kassakā pathāvino bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. They said to him, “Sir, don’t go to Ambatittha. Disvāna bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ—“mā kho, bhante, bhagavā ambatitthaṁ agamāsi. There’s a highly venomous dragon with supernormal powers there, in the hermitage of a dreadlocked ascetic. Ambatitthe, bhante, jaṭilassa assame nāgo paṭivasati iddhimā āsiviso ghoraviso. Don’t let it harm you.” So bhagavantaṁ mā viheṭhesī”ti. The Buddha was silent. Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi. They repeated their request a second Dutiyampi kho …pe… and a third time, tatiyampi kho gopālakā pasupālakā kassakā pathāvino bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ—“mā kho, bhante, bhagavā ambatitthaṁ agamāsi. Ambatitthe, bhante, jaṭilassa assame nāgo paṭivasati iddhimā āsiviso ghoraviso. So bhagavantaṁ mā viheṭhesī”ti. and the Buddha remained silent. Tatiyampi kho bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.

The Buddha then continued on to Bhaddavatikā, and he stayed there. Atha kho bhagavā anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena bhaddavatikā tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā bhaddavatikāyaṁ viharati.

Just then Venerable Sāgata went to the hermitage of that dreadlocked ascetic and entered his fire hut. After preparing a spread of grass, he sat down, crossed his legs, straightened his body, and established mindfulness in front of him. Atha kho āyasmā sāgato yena ambatitthassa jaṭilassa assamo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā agyāgāraṁ pavisitvā tiṇasanthārakaṁ paññapetvā nisīdi pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā. Seeing that Sāgata had entered the fire hut, the dragon was upset and emitted smoke. Addasā kho so nāgo āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ paviṭṭhaṁ. Disvāna dummano padhūpāyi. Sāgata, too, emitted smoke. Āyasmāpi sāgato padhūpāyi. The dragon was not able to contain his rage and emitted flames. Atha kho so nāgo makkhaṁ asahamāno pajjali. Sāgata entered the fire element and he, too, emitted flames. Āyasmāpi sāgato tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā pajjali. Then, after conquering fire with fire, Sāgata went to Bhaddavatikā. Atha kho āyasmā sāgato tassa nāgassa tejasā tejaṁ pariyādiyitvā yena bhaddavatikā tenupasaṅkami.

After staying at Bhaddavatikā for as long as he liked, the Buddha set out wandering toward Kosambī. Atha kho bhagavā bhaddavatikāyaṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena kosambī tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi. Assosuṁ kho kosambikā upāsakā—“ayyo kira sāgato ambatitthikena nāgena saddhiṁ saṅgāmesī”ti.

When he arrived, the lay followers there received him. Atha kho bhagavā anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena kosambī tadavasari. Atha kho kosambikā upāsakā bhagavato paccuggamanaṁ karitvā yenāyasmā sāgato tenupasaṅkamiṁsu;

But the lay followers at Kosambī had heard about Sāgata fighting the Ambatittha dragon. And so after receiving the Buddha, they went to see Sāgata. They bowed, stood to one side, and said, upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho kosambikā upāsakā āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ etadavocuṁ—“Venerable, what can we prepare for you that’s delicious but hard to get?” “kiṁ, bhante, ayyānaṁ dullabhañca manāpañca, kiṁ paṭiyādemā”ti?

The monks from the group of six replied, “There’s a delicious liquor called Kāpotikā, which is hard for the monks to get. Prepare that.” Evaṁ vutte, chabbaggiyā bhikkhū kosambike upāsake etadavocuṁ—“atthāvuso, kāpotikā nāma pasannā bhikkhūnaṁ dullabhā ca manāpā ca, taṁ paṭiyādethā”ti.

And the lay followers prepared Kāpotikā in house after house. Then, when they saw that Sāgata had entered the town for alms, they said to him, “Drink, venerable, drink the Kāpotikā liquor.” Atha kho kosambikā upāsakā ghare ghare kāpotikaṁ pasannaṁ paṭiyādetvā āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ piṇḍāya paviṭṭhaṁ disvāna āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ etadavocuṁ—“pivatu, bhante, ayyo sāgato kāpotikaṁ pasannaṁ, pivatu, bhante, ayyo sāgato kāpotikaṁ pasannan”ti. Sāgata drank that liquor in house after house, and as he was leaving town, he collapsed at the town gate. Atha kho āyasmā sāgato ghare ghare kāpotikaṁ pasannaṁ pivitvā nagaramhā nikkhamanto nagaradvāre paripati.

Just then the Buddha, together with a number of monks, was also leaving town, and he saw Sāgata at the town gate. Atha kho bhagavā sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ nagaramhā nikkhamanto addasa āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ nagaradvāre paripatantaṁ. He said, “Monks, pick up Sāgata.” Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi—“gaṇhatha, bhikkhave, sāgatan”ti. Saying, “Yes, sir,” they led him to the monastery, where they put him down with his head toward the Buddha. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paṭissuṇitvā āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ ārāmaṁ netvā yena bhagavā tena sīsaṁ katvā nipātesuṁ. But Sāgata turned around, pointing his feet toward the Buddha. Atha kho āyasmā sāgato parivattitvā yena bhagavā tena pāde karitvā seyyaṁ kappesi.

The Buddha said, “Previously, monks, wasn’t Sāgata respectful and deferential toward me?” Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi—“nanu, bhikkhave, pubbe sāgato tathāgate sagāravo ahosi sappatisso”ti?

“Yes.” “Evaṁ, bhante”.

“But is he now?” “Api nu kho, bhikkhave, sāgato etarahi tathāgate sagāravo sappatisso”ti?

“Certainly not.” “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Just recently, didn’t Sāgata fight the Ambatittha dragon?” “Nanu, bhikkhave, sāgato ambatitthikena nāgena saddhiṁ saṅgāmesī”ti?

“Yes.” “Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Would he now be able to fight a dragon?” “Api nu kho, bhikkhave, sāgato etarahi pahoti nāgena saddhiṁ saṅgāmetun”ti?

“Certainly not.” “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“So, monks, should one drink that which makes one senseless?” “Api nu kho, bhikkhave, taṁ pātabbaṁ yaṁ pivitvā visaññī assā”ti?

“Certainly not, sir.” “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“It’s not suitable, monks, it’s not proper for Sāgata, it’s not worthy of a monastic, it’s not allowable, it’s not to be done. “Ananucchavikaṁ, bhikkhave, sāgatassa ananulomikaṁ appatirūpaṁ assāmaṇakaṁ akappiyaṁ akaraṇīyaṁ. How could Sāgata drink alcoholic drinks? Kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, sāgato majjaṁ pivissati. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Final ruling

‘If a monk drinks this or that kind of alcoholic drink, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Surāmerayapāne pācittiyan”ti.

Definitions

This kind of alcoholic drink: Surā nāma: alcoholic drinks made from flour, alcoholic drinks made from cookies, alcoholics drink made from rice, those with yeast added, those made from a combination of ingredients. piṭṭhasurā pūvasurā odanasurā kiṇṇapakkhittā sambhārasaṁyuttā.
That kind of alcoholic drink: Merayo nāma: alcoholic drinks made from flowers, alcoholic drinks made from fruit, alcoholic drinks made from honey, alcoholic drinks made from sugar, those made from a combination of ingredients. pupphāsavo phalāsavo madhvāsavo guḷāsavo sambhārasaṁyutto.
Drinks: Piveyyāti: if he drinks even what fits on the tip of a blade of grass, he commits an offense entailing confession. antamaso kusaggenapi pivati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Permutations

If it is an alcoholic drink, and he perceives it as such, and he drinks it, he commits an offense entailing confession. Majje majjasaññī pivati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is an alcoholic drink, but he is unsure of it, and he drinks it, he commits an offense entailing confession. Majje vematiko pivati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is an alcoholic drink, but he perceives it as non-alcoholic, and he drinks it, he commits an offense entailing confession. Majje amajjasaññī pivati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If it is a non-alcoholic drink, but he perceives it as alcoholic, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Amajje majjasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is a non-alcoholic drink, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Amajje vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is a non-alcoholic drink, and he perceives it as such, there is no offense. Amajje amajjasaññī, anāpatti.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if he drinks a non-alcoholic drink that has the color, smell, or taste of an alcoholic drink; amajjañca hoti majjavaṇṇaṁ majjagandhaṁ majjarasaṁ taṁ pivati, if it is cooked in a bean curry; sūpasampāke, if it is cooked with meat; maṁsasampāke, if it is cooked with oil; telasampāke, if it is in syrup from emblic myrobalan; āmalakaphāṇite, if he drinks a drink that is normally alcoholic, but which is actually without alcohol; amajjaṁ ariṭṭhaṁ pivati, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.

The training rule on drinking alcoholic drinks, the first, is finished. Surāpānasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ paṭhamaṁ.

English Translation

Pāli Text

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

51. The training rule on drinking alcoholic drinks

Origin story

On one occasion when the Buddha was wandering in the country of Ceti on his way to Bhaddavatikā, he was seen by a number of cowherds, shepherds, farmers, and travelers. They said to him, “Sir, don’t go to Ambatittha. There’s a highly venomous dragon with supernormal powers there, in the hermitage of a dreadlocked ascetic. Don’t let it harm you.” The Buddha was silent. They repeated their request a second and a third time, and the Buddha remained silent.

The Buddha then continued on to Bhaddavatikā, and he stayed there.

Just then Venerable Sāgata went to the hermitage of that dreadlocked ascetic and entered his fire hut. After preparing a spread of grass, he sat down, crossed his legs, straightened his body, and established mindfulness in front of him. Seeing that Sāgata had entered the fire hut, the dragon was upset and emitted smoke. Sāgata, too, emitted smoke. The dragon was not able to contain his rage and emitted flames. Sāgata entered the fire element and he, too, emitted flames. Then, after conquering fire with fire, Sāgata went to Bhaddavatikā.

After staying at Bhaddavatikā for as long as he liked, the Buddha set out wandering toward Kosambī.

When he arrived, the lay followers there received him.

The monks from the group of six replied, “There’s a delicious liquor called Kāpotikā, which is hard for the monks to get. Prepare that.”

Just then the Buddha, together with a number of monks, was also leaving town, and he saw Sāgata at the town gate. He said, “Monks, pick up Sāgata.” Saying, “Yes, sir,” they led him to the monastery, where they put him down with his head toward the Buddha. But Sāgata turned around, pointing his feet toward the Buddha.

The Buddha said, “Previously, monks, wasn’t Sāgata respectful and deferential toward me?”

“Yes.”

“But is he now?”

“Certainly not.”

“Just recently, didn’t Sāgata fight the Ambatittha dragon?”

“Yes.”

“Would he now be able to fight a dragon?”

“Certainly not.”

“So, monks, should one drink that which makes one senseless?”

“Certainly not, sir.”

“It’s not suitable, monks, it’s not proper for Sāgata, it’s not worthy of a monastic, it’s not allowable, it’s not to be done. How could Sāgata drink alcoholic drinks? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘If a monk drinks this or that kind of alcoholic drink, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

This kind of alcoholic drink:: alcoholic drinks made from flour, alcoholic drinks made from cookies, alcoholics drink made from rice, those with yeast added, those made from a combination of ingredients.
That kind of alcoholic drink:: alcoholic drinks made from flowers, alcoholic drinks made from fruit, alcoholic drinks made from honey, alcoholic drinks made from sugar, those made from a combination of ingredients.
Drinks:: if he drinks even what fits on the tip of a blade of grass, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is an alcoholic drink, and he perceives it as such, and he drinks it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is an alcoholic drink, but he is unsure of it, and he drinks it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is an alcoholic drink, but he perceives it as non-alcoholic, and he drinks it, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is a non-alcoholic drink, but he perceives it as alcoholic, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is a non-alcoholic drink, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is a non-alcoholic drink, and he perceives it as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he drinks a non-alcoholic drink that has the color, smell, or taste of an alcoholic drink; if it is cooked in a bean curry; if it is cooked with meat; if it is cooked with oil; if it is in syrup from emblic myrobalan; if he drinks a drink that is normally alcoholic, but which is actually without alcohol; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on drinking alcoholic drinks, the first, is finished.

Theravāda Vinaya
Mahāvibhaṅga
Pācittiyakaṇḍa
Surāpānavagga

51. Surāpānasikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā cetiyesu cārikaṁ caramāno yena bhaddavatikā tena pāyāsi. Addasaṁsu kho gopālakā pasupālakā kassakā pathāvino bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ—“mā kho, bhante, bhagavā ambatitthaṁ agamāsi. Ambatitthe, bhante, jaṭilassa assame nāgo paṭivasati iddhimā āsiviso ghoraviso. So bhagavantaṁ mā viheṭhesī”ti. Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi. Dutiyampi kho …pe… tatiyampi kho gopālakā pasupālakā kassakā pathāvino bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ—“mā kho, bhante, bhagavā ambatitthaṁ agamāsi. Ambatitthe, bhante, jaṭilassa assame nāgo paṭivasati iddhimā āsiviso ghoraviso. So bhagavantaṁ mā viheṭhesī”ti. Tatiyampi kho bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.

Atha kho bhagavā anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena bhaddavatikā tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā bhaddavatikāyaṁ viharati.

Atha kho āyasmā sāgato yena ambatitthassa jaṭilassa assamo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā agyāgāraṁ pavisitvā tiṇasanthārakaṁ paññapetvā nisīdi pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā. Addasā kho so nāgo āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ paviṭṭhaṁ. Disvāna dummano padhūpāyi. Āyasmāpi sāgato padhūpāyi. Atha kho so nāgo makkhaṁ asahamāno pajjali. Āyasmāpi sāgato tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā pajjali. Atha kho āyasmā sāgato tassa nāgassa tejasā tejaṁ pariyādiyitvā yena bhaddavatikā tenupasaṅkami.

Atha kho bhagavā bhaddavatikāyaṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena kosambī tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi. Assosuṁ kho kosambikā upāsakā—“ayyo kira sāgato ambatitthikena nāgena saddhiṁ saṅgāmesī”ti.

Atha kho bhagavā anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena kosambī tadavasari. Atha kho kosambikā upāsakā bhagavato paccuggamanaṁ karitvā yenāyasmā sāgato tenupasaṅkamiṁsu;

upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho kosambikā upāsakā āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ etadavocuṁ—“kiṁ, bhante, ayyānaṁ dullabhañca manāpañca, kiṁ paṭiyādemā”ti?

Evaṁ vutte, chabbaggiyā bhikkhū kosambike upāsake etadavocuṁ—“atthāvuso, kāpotikā nāma pasannā bhikkhūnaṁ dullabhā ca manāpā ca, taṁ paṭiyādethā”ti.

Atha kho kosambikā upāsakā ghare ghare kāpotikaṁ pasannaṁ paṭiyādetvā āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ piṇḍāya paviṭṭhaṁ disvāna āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ etadavocuṁ—“pivatu, bhante, ayyo sāgato kāpotikaṁ pasannaṁ, pivatu, bhante, ayyo sāgato kāpotikaṁ pasannan”ti. Atha kho āyasmā sāgato ghare ghare kāpotikaṁ pasannaṁ pivitvā nagaramhā nikkhamanto nagaradvāre paripati.

Atha kho bhagavā sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ nagaramhā nikkhamanto addasa āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ nagaradvāre paripatantaṁ. Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi—“gaṇhatha, bhikkhave, sāgatan”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paṭissuṇitvā āyasmantaṁ sāgataṁ ārāmaṁ netvā yena bhagavā tena sīsaṁ katvā nipātesuṁ. Atha kho āyasmā sāgato parivattitvā yena bhagavā tena pāde karitvā seyyaṁ kappesi.

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi—“nanu, bhikkhave, pubbe sāgato tathāgate sagāravo ahosi sappatisso”ti?

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Api nu kho, bhikkhave, sāgato etarahi tathāgate sagāravo sappatisso”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Nanu, bhikkhave, sāgato ambatitthikena nāgena saddhiṁ saṅgāmesī”ti?

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Api nu kho, bhikkhave, sāgato etarahi pahoti nāgena saddhiṁ saṅgāmetun”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Api nu kho, bhikkhave, taṁ pātabbaṁ yaṁ pivitvā visaññī assā”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Ananucchavikaṁ, bhikkhave, sāgatassa ananulomikaṁ appatirūpaṁ assāmaṇakaṁ akappiyaṁ akaraṇīyaṁ. Kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, sāgato majjaṁ pivissati. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

“Surāmerayapāne pācittiyan”ti.

Surā nāma: piṭṭhasurā pūvasurā odanasurā kiṇṇapakkhittā sambhārasaṁyuttā.
Merayo nāma: pupphāsavo phalāsavo madhvāsavo guḷāsavo sambhārasaṁyutto.
Piveyyāti: antamaso kusaggenapi pivati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Majje majjasaññī pivati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Majje vematiko pivati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Majje amajjasaññī pivati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Amajje majjasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Amajje vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Amajje amajjasaññī, anāpatti.

Anāpatti—amajjañca hoti majjavaṇṇaṁ majjagandhaṁ majjarasaṁ taṁ pivati, sūpasampāke, maṁsasampāke, telasampāke, āmalakaphāṇite, amajjaṁ ariṭṭhaṁ pivati, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.

Surāpānasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ paṭhamaṁ.

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
The subchapter on drinking alcohol Surāpānavagga

51. The training rule on drinking alcoholic drinks 51. Surāpānasikkhāpada

Origin story

“Yes.” “Evaṁ, bhante”.

“But is he now?” “Api nu kho, bhikkhave, sāgato etarahi tathāgate sagāravo sappatisso”ti?

“Certainly not.” “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Just recently, didn’t Sāgata fight the Ambatittha dragon?” “Nanu, bhikkhave, sāgato ambatitthikena nāgena saddhiṁ saṅgāmesī”ti?

“Yes.” “Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Would he now be able to fight a dragon?” “Api nu kho, bhikkhave, sāgato etarahi pahoti nāgena saddhiṁ saṅgāmetun”ti?

“Certainly not.” “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“So, monks, should one drink that which makes one senseless?” “Api nu kho, bhikkhave, taṁ pātabbaṁ yaṁ pivitvā visaññī assā”ti?

“Certainly not, sir.” “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

Final ruling

‘If a monk drinks this or that kind of alcoholic drink, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Surāmerayapāne pācittiyan”ti.

Definitions

This kind of alcoholic drink: Surā nāma: alcoholic drinks made from flour, alcoholic drinks made from cookies, alcoholics drink made from rice, those with yeast added, those made from a combination of ingredients. piṭṭhasurā pūvasurā odanasurā kiṇṇapakkhittā sambhārasaṁyuttā.
That kind of alcoholic drink: Merayo nāma: alcoholic drinks made from flowers, alcoholic drinks made from fruit, alcoholic drinks made from honey, alcoholic drinks made from sugar, those made from a combination of ingredients. pupphāsavo phalāsavo madhvāsavo guḷāsavo sambhārasaṁyutto.
Drinks: Piveyyāti: if he drinks even what fits on the tip of a blade of grass, he commits an offense entailing confession. antamaso kusaggenapi pivati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Permutations

Non-offenses

The training rule on drinking alcoholic drinks, the first, is finished. Surāpānasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ paṭhamaṁ.