Mahavagga, Khandaka 8, Chapter 21

1. Now the Bhikkhus thought: 'What is the limit for the size of a robe up to which it ought to be handed over to another Bhikkhu^[1]?'

They told this matter to the Blessed One.

'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, to hand over any robe which is in length eight inches according to the accepted inch^[2].'

Now at that time a robe belonging to the venerable Mahā Kassapa, which had been made of cast-off pieces of cloth became heavy (by reason of the weight of the new pieces tacked on to it^[3]).

They told this matter to the Blessed One.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to darn it roughly together with thread^[4].'

It was uneven at the end^[5].

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to remove the unevenness^[6].' The threads frayed out^[7].

They told this matter to the Blessed One.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to put a braiding or a binding along or round (the edge)^[8]:

Now at that time the ribbons^[9] of the under garment gave way^[10].

They told this matter to the Blessed One.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to make an eight-footed . . .^[11].'

2. Now at that time when a set of robes was being made for a certain Bhikkhu it was impossible to make it entirely from torn pieces of cloth^[12].

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to have two of the robes made of torn pieces of cloth, and one of cloth not torn.'

It was impossible to make two of the robes of torn pieces of cloth, and one of cloth not torn.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to make two robes (out of the set) of untorn pieces, and one of torn pieces.'

Even this was impossible.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to make (each robe out of the set) half (from torn pieces) and half^[13] (from untorn pieces). But a set of robes made entirely from untorn pieces is not to be worn. Whosoever shall wear (a set of robes so made) is guilty of a dukkaṭa.'

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See VIII, 13, 8, and our note on the 59th Pācittiya.

[2]:

See our note on this word in the 92nd Pācittiya.

[3]:

So explains the commentary, Chinna-ṭṭhāne aggalāropanena garuko hoti.

[4]:

Suttalūkhaṃ kātun ti sutten’ eva aggalaṃ kātun ti attho (B.). Compare above, chapter 12. 2.

[5]:

Vikaṇṇo ti suttam añcitvā sibbantānaṃ eko saṃghāṭi-koṇo digho hoti, says Buddhaghosa. Vikaṇṇaka in the 233rd Jātaka seems to mean 'harpoon.'

[6]:

Vikaṇṇam uddharitun ti dīgha-koṇaṃ chindituṃ (B.).

[7]:

Okiratī (sic) ti chinna-koṇato gaḷati (B.). Gaḷati at VI, r3, 1, is 'ran over,' whereas okiriyanti at the corresponding passages VI, 12, 1, 2, is 'were spilt.' Probably the above rendering is the real meaning here, as the threads could not be literally spilt or sprinkled.

[8]:

On these difficult technical terms Buddhaghosa provokingly says, anuvātaṃ paribhaṇḍam anuvātañ c’ eva paribhaṇḍaṃ. Childers, under the first, has merely 'with the wind,' and under the second, 'girdle.' The same expressions occur also above, at VII, 1, 5, where Buddhaghosa, again only explains the words by the words themselves.

[9]:

We probably ought to read paṭṭā, not pattā; but what is meant by the ribbons of the saṃghāṭi is very doubtful. Buddhaghosa says nothing.

[10]:

For lujjati compare palujjati.

[11]:

What this is is again uncertain, and Buddhaghosa gives no help.

[12]:

See above, chapter 11, at the end.

[13]:

Anvādhikaṃ, on which Buddhaghosa says nothing.