Mahavagga, Khandaka 8, Chapter 29

1. Now at that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus wore robes that were all of a blue, light yellow, crimson, brown, black, brownish yellow, or dark yellow colour^[1]; they wore robes with skirts to them which were not made of torn pieces of cloth, or were long, or had flowers on them, or cobras' hoods on them; they wore jackets, and dresses of the Tirīṭaka plant^[2], and turbans.

The people were indignant, murmured, and became annoyed, saying, 'This is like those still living in the enjoyments of the world.'

They told the matter to the Blessed One.

'Robes that are all of a blue colour [&c.; all the things mentioned in the first paragraph being here repeated] are not to be worn. Whosoever wears them shall be guilty of a dukkaṭa^[3].'

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See Buddhaghosa's explanations of all these colours in the note on V, 2, I.

[2]:

Buddhaghosa says on this word, Tirītan (sic) ti pana rukkhachallimayaṃ, taṃ pāda-punchanaṃ kātuṃ vaṭṭati. Challi is 'bark.'

[3]:

Buddhaghosa says that the robes of the colours mentioned in this chapter may be worn if they have first been dyed, or may be used as coverlets, or may be cut up and used as parts of robes. So the robes with skirts to them may be worn if the forbidden skirts have first been torn or cut off.