Vinaya Pitaka (3): Khandhaka
by I. B. Horner | 2014 | 386,194 words | ISBN-13: 9781921842160
The English translation of the Khandhaka: the second book of the Pali Vinaya Pitaka, one of the three major ‘baskets’ of Therevada canonical literature. It is a collection of various narratives. The English translation of the Vinaya-pitaka (third part, khandhaka) contains many Pali original words, but transliterated using a system similar to the I...
The story of a eunuch
Kd.1.61.1 Now at that time a certain eunuch came to have gone forth among the monks. Having approached a number of young monks, he spoke thus: “Come, venerable ones, commit an offence with me.” The monks refused, saying: “Be off[1], eunuch, depart[2], eunuch. What need have you?” Refused by the monks, having approached a number of large, fat[3] novices, he spoke thus: “Come, your reverences, commit an offence with me.” The novices refused, saying: “Be off, eunuch, depart, eunuch. What need have you?” Refused by the novices, having approached mahouts Vin.1.86 and grooms[4], he spoke thus: “Come, sirs, commit an offence with me.” The mahouts and grooms committed an offence with him.
Kd.1.61.2 These … spread it about, saying: “These recluses, sons of the Sakyans, are eunuchs, and those of them who are not eunuchs, they too commit offences with eunuchs. Thus they are one and all unchaste.” Monks heard these mahouts and grooms who … spread it about. Then these monks told this matter to the Lord. He said:
BD.4.109 “Monks, if a eunuch is not ordained, he should not be ordained; if he is ordained, he should be expelled.[5]”
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
nassa, disappear.
[2]:
vinassa = nassa, Vin-a.871, which adds “go where we do not see you”. For cara pi re vinassa see Vin.4.139.
[3]:
Moligalla; variant readings given at Vin.1.372: moḷigalla, mukalla.
[4]:
hatthibhaṇḍa assabhaṇḍa. Vin-a.1015 explains bhaṇḍa by gopaka, guardian, watchman.
[5]:
Vin-a.1016 says he is to be expelled by the expulsion due to characteristic, liṅganāsana. Three kinds of expulsion are given at Vin-a.870f.: (1) expulsion from communion, meaning expulsion for not seeing an offence, not making amends for it, not giving up a false view; (2) expulsion due to characteristic, as an example of which the nun Mettiyā is cited (Vin.3.162–3); (3) expulsion as a punishment, with the words, ‘From today forth, reverend novice, the Lord cannot be referred to as your teacher’ (Vin.4.139 = BD.3.31).