Monks’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 90

^{Bu-Pc.90.1.1 BD.3.97} … at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time an itch-cloth^[1] was allowed to the monks by the lord. ^Vin.4.172 The group of six monks, thinking: “An itch-cloth is allowed by the lord,” used itch-cloths that were not of a (proper) measure; they went about trailing (these) along^[2] in front as well as behind.^[3] Those who were modest monks … spread it about, saying: “How can this group of six monks use itch-cloths that are not of a (proper) measure” …

“It is true, lord.”

The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying:

“How can you, foolish men, use itch-cloths that are not of a (proper) measure? It is not, foolish men, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:

“When an itch-cloth is being made for a monk, it must be made to a (proper) measure. This is the (proper) measure here: in length four spans of the accepted span, in breadth two spans. In exceeding this (measure), there is an offence of expiation involving cutting down.”

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^Bu-Pc.90.2.1 Itch-cloth means: it is for covering him who has itch^{[4] BD.3.98} or a small boil^[5] or a running sore^[6] or a thick scab disease^[7] from below the navel to above the knee.

Is being made means: … see Bu-Pc.89.3 …

it should be made to a (proper) measure … in breadth two spans (Bu-Pc.89.3) …

… if he is mad, if he is the first wrong-doer.

The Eighth

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

kaṇḍupāṭicchādi. Allowed at Vin.1.296, referred to at Vin-a.884.

[2]:

ākaḍḍhantā. Cf. ākaḍḍhanā at Vin.3.121, ākaḍḍhiyamānā at Vin.4.225, and kaḍḍhati, above, BD.3.95, n.2.

[3]:

Cf. below, BD.3.99, BD.3.235.

[4]:

kaṇḍū ti kacchu, Vin-a.884. Kacchu is a skin disease, itch, scab.

[5]:

piḷakā ti lohilutaṇḍikā sukhumapīḷakā, Vin-a.884.

[6]:

assāva.

[7]:

thullakacchu vā ābādho ti mahāpiḷakābadho vuccati, Vin-a.884; or a bad outbreak of large boils.