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 1, Chapter 42
1. At that time the Magadha king Seniya Bimbisāra had issued the following decree: 'No one is to do any harm to those who are ordained among the Sakyaputtiya Samaṇas; well taught is their doctrine; let them lead a holy life for the sake of the complete extinction of suffering.'
Now at that time a certain person who had committed robbery was imprisoned in the jail. He broke out of the jail, ran away, and received the pabbajjā ordination with the Bhikkhus.
2. The people who saw him, said: 'Here is the robber who has broken out of jail; come, let us bring him (before the authorities).'
But some people replied: 'Do not say so, Sirs. A decree has been issued by the Magadha king Seniya Bimbisāra: 'No one is to do any harm to those who are ordained, &c.'
People were annoyed, murmured, and became angry, thinking: 'Indeed these Sakyaputtiya Samaṇas are secure from anything; it is not allowed to do any harm to them. How can they ordain a robber who has broken out of jail?'
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
“Let no robber, O Bhikkhus, who has broken out of jail, receive the pabbajjā ordination. He who confers the pabbajjā ordination (on such a person), is guilty of a dukkaṭa offence.”