Sugatacīvara

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Mahāvibhaṅga

The Great Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Ratanavagga

The subchapter on precious things

92. Nandasikkhāpada

Making an oversize robe

Origin story

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā nando bhagavato mātucchāputto abhirūpo hoti dassanīyo pāsādiko caturaṅgulomako bhagavatā.

At that time there was a handsome and graceful monk called Venerable Nanda, the Buddha’s cousin. He was seven centimeters shorter than the Buddha,

So sugatacīvarappamāṇaṁ cīvaraṁ dhāreti.

but he wore a robe that was the same size as the Buddha’s.

Addasaṁsu kho therā bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ nandaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.

When the senior monks saw him coming,

Disvāna—

“bhagavā āgacchatī”ti āsanā vuṭṭhahanti.

they thought it was the Buddha and got up from their seats.

Te upagate jānitvā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

But when he came close, they realized who it was, and they complained and criticized him,

“kathañhi nāma āyasmā nando sugatacīvarappamāṇaṁ cīvaraṁ dhāressatī”ti …pe…

“How can Venerable Nanda wear a robe the same size as the Buddha’s?” …

“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, nanda, sugatacīvarappamāṇaṁ cīvaraṁ dhāresī”ti?

“Is it true, Nanda, that you do this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked him …

kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, nanda, sugatacīvarappamāṇaṁ cīvaraṁ dhāressasi.

“Nanda, how can you do this?

Netaṁ, nanda, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

“Yo pana bhikkhu sugatacīvarappamāṇaṁ cīvaraṁ kārāpeyya atirekaṁ vā, chedanakaṁ pācittiyaṁ.

‘If a monk has a robe made that is the standard robe size or larger, it is to be cut down, and he commits an offense entailing confession.

Tatridaṁ sugatassa sugatacīvarappamāṇaṁ—dīghaso nava vidatthiyo, sugatavidatthiyā; tiriyaṁ cha vidatthiyo.

This is the standard robe size: nine standard handspans long and six wide.’”

Idaṁ sugatassa sugatacīvarappamāṇan”ti.

Definitions

Yo panāti

A:

yo yādiso …pe…

whoever …

bhikkhūti

Monk:

…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.

… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.

Sugatacīvarappamāṇaṁ nāma

The standard robe size:

dīghaso nava vidatthiyo, sugatavidatthiyā; tiriyaṁ cha vidatthiyo.

nine standard handspans long and six wide.

Kārāpeyyāti

Has made:

karoti vā kārāpeti vā, payoge dukkaṭaṁ.

if he makes one or has one made, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct.

Paṭilābhena chinditvā pācittiyaṁ desetabbaṁ.

When he gets it, it is to be cut down, and he is then to confess an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

Attanā vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If he finishes what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Attanā vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If he has others finish what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Parehi vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If he finishes himself what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Parehi vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If he has others finish what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Aññassatthāya karoti vā kārāpeti vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If he makes one or has one made for the benefit of someone else, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Aññena kataṁ paṭilabhitvā paribhuñjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If he gets one that was made by someone else and then uses it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

ūnakaṁ karoti,

if he makes it smaller than the standard robe;

aññena kataṁ paṭilabhitvā chinditvā paribhuñjati,

if he gets one made by another that is too large and then cuts it down before using it;

vitānaṁ vā bhūmattharaṇaṁ vā sāṇipākāraṁ vā bhisiṁ vā bibbohanaṁ vā karoti,

if he makes a canopy, a floor cover, a cloth screen, a mattress, or a pillow;

ummattakassa,

if he is insane;

ādikammikassāti.

if he is the first offender.

Nandasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dasamaṁ.

The training rule on making an oversize robe, the tenth, is finished.

Ratanavaggo navamo.

The ninth subchapter on precious things is finished.

Tassuddānaṁ

This is the summary:

Rañño ca ratanaṁ santaṁ,

“And a king’s, precious things, available,

sūci mañcañca tūlikaṁ;

Needle, and bed, cotton down;

Nisīdanañca kaṇḍuñca,

And sitting mat, and itch,

vassikā sugatena cāti.

Rainy-season, and by the standard.”

Uddiṭṭhā kho, āyasmanto, dvenavuti pācittiyā dhammā.

“Venerables, the ninety-two rules on confession have been recited.

Tatthāyasmante pucchāmi—

In regard to this I ask you,

“kaccittha parisuddhā”?

‘Are you pure in this?’

Dutiyampi pucchāmi—

A second time I ask,

“kaccittha parisuddhā”?

‘Are you pure in this?’

Tatiyampi pucchāmi—

A third time I ask,

“kaccittha parisuddhā”?

‘Are you pure in this?’

Parisuddhetthāyasmanto, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmīti.

You are pure in this and therefore silent. I will remember it thus.”

Khuddakaṁ samattaṁ.

The section on minor rules has been completed.

Pācittiyakaṇḍaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The chapter on offenses entailing confession is finished.