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 entered the village at the wrong time, sat down in the public meeting hall, and talked about all sorts of worldly things: Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū vikāle gāmaṁ pavisitvā sabhāyaṁ nisīditvā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathenti, seyyathidaṁ—about kings, gangsters, and officials; about armies, dangers, and battles; about food, drink, clothes, and beds; about garlands and perfumes; about relatives, vehicles, villages, towns, and countries; about women and heroes; gossip; about the departed; about various trivialities; about the world and the sea; about the various kinds of existence. rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ mahāmattakathaṁ senākathaṁ bhayakathaṁ yuddhakathaṁ annakathaṁ pānakathaṁ vatthakathaṁ sayanakathaṁ mālākathaṁ gandhakathaṁ ñātikathaṁ yānakathaṁ gāmakathaṁ nigamakathaṁ nagarakathaṁ janapadakathaṁ itthikathaṁ sūrakathaṁ visikhākathaṁ kumbhaṭṭhānakathaṁ pubbapetakathaṁ nānattakathaṁ lokakkhāyikaṁ samuddakkhāyikaṁ itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā.

People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the Sakyan monastics enter the village at the wrong time, sit down in the public meeting hall, and talk about such worldly things? “kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā vikāle gāmaṁ pavisitvā sabhāyaṁ nisīditvā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathessanti, seyyathidaṁ—rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ …pe… They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā, seyyathāpi gihī kāmabhogino”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 vikāle gāmaṁ pavisitvā sabhāyaṁ nisīditvā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathessanti, seyyathidaṁ—… rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ …pe… itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you do this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, vikāle gāmaṁ pavisitvā sabhāyaṁ nisīditvā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathetha, seyyathidaṁ—rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ …pe… itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā”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, vikāle gāmaṁ pavisitvā sabhāyaṁ nisīditvā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathessatha, seyyathidaṁ—rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ …pe… itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā. 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—

First preliminary ruling

‘If a monk enters an inhabited area at the wrong time, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu vikāle gāmaṁ paviseyya, 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 a number of monks were walking through the Kosalan country on their way to Sāvatthī, when one evening they came to a certain village. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū kosalesu janapade sāvatthiṁ gacchantā sāyaṁ aññataraṁ gāmaṁ upagacchiṁsu. People saw them and said, Manussā te bhikkhū passitvā etadavocuṁ—“Venerables, please enter the village.” “pavisatha, bhante”ti. Atha kho te bhikkhū—But knowing that entering a village at the wrong time had been prohibited by the Buddha and being afraid of wrongdoing, they declined. “bhagavatā paṭikkhittaṁ vikāle gāmaṁ pavisitun”ti kukkuccāyantā na pavisiṁsu. And so thieves robbed them. Corā te bhikkhū acchindiṁsu.

They then went to Sāvatthī and told the monks what had happened, Atha kho te bhikkhū sāvatthiṁ gantvā bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. who in turn told the Buddha. Bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—

“Monks, I allow you to enter an inhabited area at the wrong time after informing someone. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, āpucchā vikāle gāmaṁ pavisituṁ.

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

Second preliminary ruling

‘If a monk, without informing anyone, enters an inhabited area at the wrong time, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu anāpucchā vikāle gāmaṁ paviseyya, pācittiyan”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 a monk was walking through the Kosalan country on his way to Sāvatthī, when one evening he came to a certain village. Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu janapade sāvatthiṁ gacchanto sāyaṁ aññataraṁ gāmaṁ upagacchi. People saw him and said, Manussā taṁ bhikkhuṁ passitvā etadavocuṁ—“Venerable, please enter the village.” “pavisatha, bhante”ti. Atha kho so bhikkhu—But knowing that entering a village at the wrong time without informing anyone had been prohibited by the Buddha and being afraid of wrongdoing, he declined. “bhagavatā paṭikkhittaṁ anāpucchā vikāle gāmaṁ pavisitun”ti kukkuccāyanto na pāvisi. And so thieves robbed him. Corā taṁ bhikkhuṁ acchindiṁsu.

He then went to Sāvatthī and told the monks what had happened, Atha kho so bhikkhu sāvatthiṁ gantvā bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi. who in turn told the Buddha. Bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—

“Monks, I allow you to enter an inhabited area at the wrong time after informing an available monk. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, santaṁ bhikkhuṁ āpucchā vikāle gāmaṁ pavisituṁ.

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

Third preliminary ruling

‘If a monk, when a monk is available, enters an inhabited area at the wrong time without informing him, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu santaṁ bhikkhuṁ anāpucchā vikāle gāmaṁ paviseyya, pācittiyan”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 a monk was bitten by a snake. Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho hoti. Another monk went to the village to get fire. Aññataro bhikkhu “aggiṁ āharissāmī”ti gāmaṁ gacchati. He then remembered Atha kho so bhikkhu—that the Buddha has prohibited entering a village at the wrong time without informing an available monk. And being afraid of wrongdoing, he did not enter. “bhagavatā paṭikkhittaṁ santaṁ bhikkhuṁ anāpucchā vikāle gāmaṁ pavisitun”ti kukkuccāyanto na pāvisi …pe… They told the Buddha. bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—

“Monks, I allow you to enter an inhabited area at the wrong time without informing an available monk if there is some appropriate urgent business. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, tathārūpe accāyike karaṇīye santaṁ bhikkhuṁ anāpucchā vikāle gāmaṁ pavisituṁ.

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