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1. Now at that time the Khabbaggiya Bhikkhus set the woods on fire.
People murmured, &c., saying, 'Like the charcoal burners.'
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to set woods on fire. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'
Now at that time the Vihâras were hidden under masses of grass 1, and when the woods were set on fire the Vihâras were burnt. The Bhikkhus, fearing to offend, would not make a counter-fire for their own protection.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus. when the woods are
on fire to make a counter-fire 1, and thus afford yourselves protection.'
2. Now at that time the Khabbaggiya Bhikkhus climbed up trees, and jumped from tree to tree.
People murmured, &c., saying, 'Like monkeys.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to climb up trees. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'
Now at that time, when a certain Bhikkhu in the Kosala country was going to Sâvatthi, an elephant pursued him on the way. And that Bhikkhu, when he had run up to the foot of a tree, fearing to offend, did not climb up. The elephant passed on another way.
That Bhikkhu, on arriving at Sâvatthi, told this matter to the Bhikkhus (and the Bhikkhus told this matter to the Blessed One 2).
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, when there shall be something to be done to ascend a tree to the height of a man; and in cases of misfortune as high as you like.'
148:1 Tina-gahanâ. Not covered with thatch, the word for which is tina-kkhadana. See V, 11, 6; V, 14, 3, &c.
149:1 Pataggim dâtum. See the story at Gâtaka I, 212, and foll.
149:2 Omitted in the text.