Mahavagga, Khandaka 6, Chapter 18

1. Now at that time a certain Brāhman had received some fresh tila seeds, and some fresh honey. Now it occurred to that Brāhman: 'What if I were to give these fresh tila seeds, and this fresh honey to the Bhikkhu-saṃgha with the Buddha at their head.' And that Brāhman went to the place where the Blessed One was, and when he had come there, he exchanged courteous greetings with the Blessed One. And after he had exchanged with the Blessed One the greetings and compliments of friendship and civility, he stood on one side. And, so standing, that Brāhman said to the Blessed One:

'May the venerable Gotama grant me that the venerable Gotama shall take his morrow's meal at my home to-morrow with the Bhikkhu-saṃgha.'

The Blessed One consented by remaining silent. And when that Brāhman perceived that the Blessed One had consented he. went away.

2. And that Brāhman, at the end of that night, when he had made ready sweet food, both hard and soft, had the time announced to the Blessed One (in the words), 'It is time, O Gotama, and the meal is prepared.'

And the Blessed One, early in the morning, having put on his under robe, went duly bowled and robed to that Brāhman's residence. And when he had come there, he sat down on a seat prepared for him, and with him the Bhikkhu-saṃgha.

And that Brāhman satisfied with the sweet food, hard and soft, the Bhikkhu-saṃgha with the Buddha at their head, and waited on them with his own hand. And when the Blessed One had finished his meal, and had washed his hands and his howl, the Brāhman took his seat on one side. And as he so sat the Blessed One instructed, and roused, and incited, and gladdened that Brāhman with religious discourse, and rose from his seat, and went away.

3. Now not long after the Blessed One had gone it occurred to that Brāhman: 'The things for the sake of which I invited the Bhikkhu-saṃgha with the Buddha at their head, thinking, "I will give them the fresh tila seeds and the fresh honey,"—those I have neglected to give. What if I were now to have the fresh tila seeds and the fresh honey taken, in pots and vessels, to the Ārāma!'

And that Brāhman had the fresh tila seeds and the fresh honey taken in pots and vessels, and went to the place where the Blessed One was. 'And when he had come there, he stood on one side; and so standing that Brāhman said to the Blessed One:

4. 'The things for the sake of which I invited the Bhikkhu-saṃgha with the Buddha at their head, thinking, "I will give them the fresh tila seeds and the fresh honey,"—those I have neglected to give. May the venerable Gotama receive of me the fresh tila seeds and the fresh honey.'

'Very well then, Brāhman; give them to the Bhikkhus.'

Now at that time, during the scarcity, people invited Bhikkhus to a slender meal, and they, counting the number (of those invited), refused (the invitation). And the whole Saṃgha was (once) invited; but the Bhikkhus, fearing to offend, did not accept the invitation^[1].

'Accept it, O Bhikkhus, and eat. I allow, O Bhikkhus, that a Bhikkhu who has eaten and who has refused food still offered may nevertheless eat food, if it be brought from within, even if it has not been left over^[2].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Compare Pātimokkha, Pācittiya 32.

[2]:

This is an exception to Pācittiya 35. A Bhikkhu who has finished, and has declared himself to have done so by declining further food, can still take 'leavings' without offending. By this rule he is also allowed to take food tato nīhataṃ, literally, 'brought out thence,' which seems to mean 'out of the store of the giver.' The expression recurs in VI, 32, I, and again in VI, 32, 2 (at the end), where the exceptions to Pācittiya 35 laid down in this and the following rules are again, the scarcity having passed away, put aside by 'the Blessed One.'