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1. Now at that time the sleeping-rooms of the Titthiyas were whitewashed, the floors of their rooms were coloured black, and the walls coloured with red chalk 1. Much people went to look at their sleeping-rooms.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, the use in your Vihâras of whitewash, black colouring, and red colouring.'
Now at that time the whitewash would not lie on to the rough walls.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to apply the husks of grain made up into little balls; and when you have thus removed the unevenness with your hands 2, to lay on the whitewash.'
The whitewash would not adhere.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to apply soft clay; and when you have thus removed the unevenness with your hands 2, to lay on the whitewash.'
(Still) the whitewash would not adhere.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of slime 3 (of trees) or of paste 4.'
Now at that time the colouring matter of red chalk would not lie on the rough walls.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to apply the husks of grain made up into little balls; and when you have thus removed the unevenness with your hands, to lay on the colouring matter of red chalk.'
The red colour would not adhere.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to apply clay mixed with the red powder which adheres to the grain of rice under the husks 1; and when you have so taken off the unevenness with your hands to lay on the red colouring matter.'
Still the red colouring matter would not adhere.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a paste made of mustard seed 2, and of oil of beeswax 3.'
It lay on the wall too thickly in great drops 4.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to wipe it down with a cloth 5.'
Now at that time the black colouring matter did not lie on the rough ground.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to apply husks of grain
made up into little balls; and when you have thus removed the unevenness with your hands, to lay on the black colouring matter.'
The black colouring matter would not adhere.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to apply clay mixed with (the excrement of) earth-worms 1; and when you have thus removed the unevenness with your hands, to lay on the black colouring matter.'
Still the black colouring matter would not adhere.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of slime and astringent liquid 2.'
2. Now at that time the Khabbaggiya Bhikkhus had imaginative drawings 3 painted on their Vihâras--figures of men, and figures of women.
People, when they saw them on going to visit the Vihâras; murmured, &c., saying, 'Like those who still enjoy the pleasures of the world.'
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to have imaginative drawings painted figures of men, and figures of
women. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata. I allow you, O Bhikkhus, representations of wreaths and creepers and bone hooks and cupboards 1.'
3. Now at that time the Vihâras had too low a basement (&c., as in V, 11, 6 as to roofing, stairs, and balustrade).
Now at that time the Vihâras were crowded with people 2. The Bhikkhus were ashamed to lie down to sleep.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of curtains.'
They lifted up the curtains and looked in.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to put up a lath and plaster wall half the height of the Vihâra.'
They looked on from over this half-wall.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to make inner chambers of three kinds--chambers in shape like a palankeen 3, chambers in shape like a quart measure 4, and chambers on an upper storey 5.'
Now at that time the Bhikkhus made inner chambers in the middle of small Vihâras, and there was no room to move about in.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to make the inner chambers at one side of small Vihâras, and in the middle of large ones 1.'
4. Now at that time the lower part of the lath and plaster wall of the Vihâra decayed.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, buttresses of timber 2.'
Rain leaked through on to the lath and plaster wall of the Vihâra 3.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, a protecting arrangement 4 and cement 5.'
Now at that time a snake fell from the roof on to the back of a certain Bhikkhu. He was terrified, and made an outcry 6. The Bhikkhus, running up, said to that Bhikkhu: 'Why, Sir, do you make an outcry?' Then that Bhikkhu told the matter to
the Bhikkhus, and they told the matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, a ceiling-cloth.'
5. Now at that time the Bhikkhus hung their bags at the feet of the bedsteads, and at the feet of the chairs; and they were gnawed by the mice and white ants.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, pins in the wall, and bone hooks 1.'
Now at that time the Bhikkhus laid aside their robes on the bedsteads and on the chairs, and the robes were torn.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, bamboos to hang your robes on, and strings to hang your robes on 2.'
Now at that time the Vihâras had no verandahs, and no defences 3.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, verandahs 4, covered terraces 5, inner verandahs 6, and over-hanging eaves 7.'
The verandahs were. too public; and the Bhikkhus were ashamed to lie down in them to sleep.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, an arrangement in form of a curtain that can be drawn aside 1, or an arrangement in form of a moveable screen 2.'
6. Now at that time the Bhikkhus, when taking their midday meal in the open air, were troubled by cold and heat.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, a Service Hall.'
The Service Hall had too low a basement (&c., as in V, 11, 6, down to the end).
Now at that time the Bhikkhus spread their robes out on the ground in the open air, and they became dirty.
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, bamboos to hang robes on, and strings to hang robes in, in the open air.
7. The water became warm.
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, a water-room and a water-shed.'
The water-room had too low a basement (&c., as in V, 11, 6, down to the end).
There were no vessels for the water.
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, chank shells and saucers for the water.'
8. Now at that time the Vihâras had no fence round them.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to enclose them with
ramparts (Pâkâra) of three kinds--brick walls, stone walls, and wooden fences.'
There was no store-room 1.
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, a store-room.'
The store-room had too low a basement, and it was flooded with water.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to make it with a high basement.'
The store-room had no door.
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, a door; with door-posts and lintel, with hollows like a mortar for the door to revolve in, with projections to revolve in those hollows, with rings on the door for the bolt to work along in, with a block of wood fixed into the edge of the door-post, and containing a cavity for the bolt to go into (called the Monkey's Head), with a pin to secure the bolt by, with a connecting bolt, with a key-hole, with a hole for a string with which the door may be closed, and with a string for that purpose 2.'
Grass and plaster fell from the store-room.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus (&c., as in V, 14, 4. down to the end of V, 14, 5, as to roofing, flooring, drains, &c.).'
9. Now at that time the Bhikkhus made fire-places here and there in the Parivena, and the Parivena was covered with the remains of the fires 3.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to make a separate room for the fire at one side.'
The fire-room had too low a basement (&c., as in V, 11, 6, as to flooring, stairs, and balustrade, followed by the paragraph as to the door, and the facing, as in V, 14, 3, &c.).
10. Now at that time the Ârâmas had no fences to them, and goats and cattle injured the plantations 1.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to surround them with fencing of three kinds--bamboo fences, thorn fences, and ditches.'
There was no gateway (k o t l h a k a), and goats and cattle, even so, injured the plantations.
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, a gateway, with gates made of stakes interlaced with thorny brakes 2, with fences (across the gateway) made of the akka plant 3, with ornamental screen-work over the gateway 4, and with bars.'
[Then the paragraphs allowing the roofing, &c., of this kotthaka as in V, 11, 6, and drains for the Ârâma, as in V, 14, 3.]
11. Now at that time Seniya Bimbisâra, the king of Magadha, wanted to build a pâsâda 5 (residence),
covered with cement and clay, for the use of the Samgha. And it occurred to the Bhikkhus, 'What kind of roof now has been allowed by the Blessed One, and what kind of roof has not been allowed?'
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, roofing of five kinds--brick roofing, stone roofing, cement roofing, straw roofing, and roofing of leaves.'
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End of the First Bhânavâra (or Portion for Recitation).
170:1 See V, 11, 6, where all these words recur.
170:2 Pânikâya. Buddhaghosa says nothing.
170:3 Ikkâsa, on which we have nothing to add to Buddhaghosa's note at p. 321 of the edition of the text. It recurs below again in this section.
170:4 Pittha-maddan ti pittha-khalam (B.). Compare the Sanskrit mrid.
171:1 Kundaka-mattikan ti kundaka-missaka-mattikam (B.). Compare kundaka-pûvam in the Gâtaka Commentary I, 423 (cakes made of flour mixed with this powder).
171:2 Sâsapa-kuttan ti sâsapa-pittham. The word has occurred already at Mahâvagga VI, 14, 5, where the reading is kutta instead of kudda given in the text here. The latter should be altered in accordance with that passage, and with Buddhaghosa here.
171:3 Sittha-telakan ti vilîna-madhu-sitthakam (B.). It is mentioned as used for hair-oil at Kullavagga V, 2, 3.
171:4 Akkussannam hotî ti bindum bindum hutvâ titthati, says Buddhaghosa.
171:5 Kolakena pakkuddharitum. Buddhaghosa says pakkuttharitun ti muñkitum; but compare for the right form V, 17, 1.
172:1 Gandu-mattikan ti ganduppâda-gûtha-mattikam (B.).
172:2 Kasâvan ti âmalaka-haritakânam kasâvam (B.). Compare Mahâvagga VI, 4.
172:3 Patibhâna-kittam. The Bhikkhunîs were forbidden by the 41st Pâkittiya of the Bhikkhunî-vibhaṅga to go and see such paintings. (Sutta-vibhaṅga II, 298, where a picture gallery, Kittâgâra, belonging to King Pasenadi of Kosala, is mentioned.) We. are not quite sure of the connotation of the term, which appears to imply some reproach. Perhaps it means 'suggestive.' Figures as such were not forbidden; and remains of statues and bas reliefs erected in the Vihâras, illustrative of every-day life, have been found in great numbers. In the introductory story to the 26th Pâkittiya it certainly means 'indecent.'
173:1 All these words occur above at V, 11, 6, and V, 14, 4. The meaning of the two last is very doubtful. Perhaps it is intended that these should occupy the space on the walls instead of any ornamentation.
173:2 Âlakamandâ, literally, 'like Kuvera's city in heaven.' Buddhaghosa tells us why. Âlakamandâ ti ekaṅganâ manussâbhikinnâ. Âkinna-yakkhâ, corresponding to this last word, recurs in the standing description of Âlakamandâ at Mahâ-parinibbâna Sutta V, 43 = Mahâ Sudassana Sutta I, 3. The name of the city is spelt in both those passages with l not l.
173:3 Sivikâ-gabbho ti katurassa-gahbho says Buddhaghosa.
173:4 Nâlikâ-gabbho ti vitthârato dviguna-tigun-âyâmo dîgha-gabbho (B.). That nalikâ is used like nâli for a bushel measure follows from a comparison of Gâtaka 1,124, last lines, with I, 126, line 3.
173:5 Hammiya-gahbho ti âkâsa-tale kutâgâra-gabbho mudanda-kkhadana-gabbho p. 174 vâ (B.). Compare our note on Mahâvagga I, 30, 4.
174:1 There is a similar injunction at V, 14, 3, with respect to fire-places in bath-rooms.
174:2 Kulaṅka-pâdakam. See Buddhaghosa's note at p. 321 of the edition of the text. The remedy here is different from that provided in the similar case, at V, 14, 3, with respect to bath-houses.
174:3 On the use of ovassati compare V, 16, 1, and VIII, 3, 3.
174:4 Parittâna-kitikan ti tassa parittânattham kitikam is all that Buddhaghosa says. Compare the end of § 5.
174:5 Uddha-sudhan ti vakkhaka-gomayena ka kharikâya ka saddhim maddita-mattikam (B.).
174:6 Vissaram akâsi. See the note on Kullavagga VIII, I, where the whole incident is similar.
175:1 The use of these has been already referred to at V, 9. 5.
175:2 These have already been allowed in Kullavagga V, It, 6, and V, 14, 3. The license under the present rule extends only to their use in Vihâras.
175:3 Apatissaranâ, which must have some special, technical, meaning unknown to us. Buddhaghosa says nothing.
175:4 Âlindo nâma pamukham vukkati (B.). Compare Abhidhâna-ppadîpikâ, verse 218.
175:5 Paghanam nâma yam nikkhamantâ ka pavisantâ ka pâdehi hananti. Tassa vihâra-dvâre ubhato kuttam (?) niharitvâ katapadesass’ etam adhivakanam. Paghânan ti pi vukkati (B.).
175:6 Pakuttan ti magghe gabbhassa samantâ pariyâgâro vukkati. Pakutan ti pi pâtho (B.).
175:7 Osarako ti anâlindake vihâre vamsam datvâ tato dandake p. 176 osâretvâ katam khadana-pamukham (B.). At Gâtaka III, 446, it is said of a dying man 'niharitvâ osârake nipaggâpesum.'
176:1 Samsarana-kitiko nâma kakkala-yutto kitiko (B.). Kakkala should be compared with kakkhalikâ at VI, 2, 2, and kakkhali at VI, 19.
176:2 Ugghâtana-kitiko, on which Buddhaghosa says nothing.
177:1 Kotthaka. See our note above on V, J4, 4, as to the various allied meanings of this word. Perhaps 'gateway' should be chosen as the rendering here, as it clearly must be in the closely allied passage in the next section but one (§ 10). As the chamber supposed always to be built over the gateway could be used as a store-room, the difference is not very essential.
177:2 The whole as above in V, 14, 3, where see the note.
177:3 Uklâpo. On this use of the word compare Kullavagga VIII. 1, 3.
178:1 Uparope. Compare Uparopaka at Gâtaka II, 345.
178:2 Apesiyam. See p. 321 of the edition of the text, reading of course kanthaka.
178:3 Akkavâta, on which Buddhaghosa says nothing. A kind of dress made from the stalks of the akka plant is mentioned in Mahâvagga VIII, 28, 2.
178:4 Tosana, which is the ornamental erection over a gateway of which such excellent examples in stone have been found at the Sânchi and Bharhut Topes.
178:5 The exact meaning of the word Pâsâda at the time when this p. 179 book was written has not yet been precisely ascertained. In later times it meant a building of several storeys, each successive storey being smaller in superficial area than the one immediately beneath it. Compare the Mahâ-loha-pâsâda so often mentioned in the Mahâvamsa (pp. 161-257), the stone pillars of the lowest stories of which are still one of the sights of Anurâdhapura.