Vinaya (2): The Mahavagga
by T. W. Rhys Davids | 1881 | 156,382 words
The Mahavagga (part of the Vinaya collection) includes accounts of Gautama Buddha’s and the ten principal disciples’ awakenings, as well as rules for ordination, rules for reciting the Patimokkha during uposatha days, and various monastic procedures....
Mahavagga, Khandaka 6, Chapter 5
1. Now at that time the Bhikkhus who were sick had need of leaves as medicine.
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of leaves as medicine—the leaves of the nimba[1], of the kuṭaga[1], of the paṭola[2], of the tulasi[3], of the kappāsika[4], and whatsoever other leaves are used for medicine, and impart an appetising flavour to foods, either hard or soft, which the sick Bhikkhus could not otherwise eat. They may be received, and stored up (&c., as in last chapter, down to:) guilty of a dukkaṭa offence.'
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
See the last chapter for these plants.
[2]:
A species of cucumber, Trichosanthes Dioeca.
[3]:
That is, basil; but the reading is conjectural only. The text has sulasi.
[4]:
This is ordinary cotton.