Origin story

First sub-story

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

In the morning, with his make-up still on, he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down. upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. The Buddha said to him, “Great king, why have you come so early in the morning, with your make-up still on?” Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho rājānaṁ māgadhaṁ seniyaṁ bimbisāraṁ bhagavā etadavoca—“kissa tvaṁ, mahārāja, kālasseva āgato asambhinnena vilepanenā”ti? The king told him what had happened. Atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesi. 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. Atha 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.

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

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could those foolish men act in this way? kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā rājānampi passitvā na mattaṁ jānitvā nahāyissanti. 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—

First preliminary ruling

‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, pācittiyan”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, 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. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū uṇhasamaye pariḷāhasamaye kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti, sedagatena gattena sayanti. As a consequence, their robes and beds got dirty. Cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati. They told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

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

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

Second preliminary ruling

‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. “Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. 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.’” Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo pariḷāhasamayo—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.

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

Third sub-story

Soon afterwards some 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 bathed at intervals of less than a half-month, and then we were comfortable. “Pubbe mayaṁ, āvuso, orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyāma, tena no phāsu hoti; 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.” idāni pana ‘bhagavatā paṭikkhittan’ti kukkuccāyantā na nahāyāma, tena no na phāsu hotī”ti.

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

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

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

Third preliminary ruling

‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. “Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. 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.’” Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.

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

Fourth sub-story

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

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

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

Fourth preliminary ruling

‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. “Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. 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.’” Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo, kammasamayo—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.

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

Fifth sub-story

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

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

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

Fifth preliminary ruling

‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. “Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. 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.’” Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo, kammasamayo, addhānagamanasamayo—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.

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

Sixth sub-story

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

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

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