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Sixth Khandhaka. Chapter 5

5.

1. Now when the Blessed One had stayed at R"g"agaha as long as he thought fit, he set out towards Vesl; and journeying straight on he in due course arrived there. And there at Vesl the Blessed One stayed in the peak-roofed hall at the Mahvana.

Now at that time the people were zealously engaged in putting up new buildings (for the use of the Order) 5, and as zealously provided with the

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requisite clothes, and food, and lodging, and medicine for the sick, all such Bhikkhus as superintended their work.

Now a certain poor tailor thought; 'This can be no every-day matter on which the people are so zealously engaged. Let me too set to work on a new building.' And that poor tailor himself kneaded the clay, and laid the bricks, and raised the walls. But by his want of experience the laying was out of line and the wall fell down. And a second and a third time he [repeated his work, and with the same result].

2.
Then that poor tailor murmured, was annoyed, and became indignant, saying, 'These Sakyaputtiya Sama"n"as exhort and teach those men who provide them with the requisite clothes, food, lodging, and medicine, and superintend their buildings for them. But I am poor, and no one exhorts or teaches me, or helps me in my building!'

The Bhikkhus heard him so murmuring, and told the matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One on that occasion and in that connection made a religious discourse, and gave command to the Bhikkhus, saying, 'I permit you, O Bhikkhus, to give new buildings in course of erection (for the use of the Order) in charge (to a Bhikkhu who shall superintend 1 the work). And the Bhikkhu who

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is overseer shall zealously exert himself to the end that the work on the Vihra may be brought to a rapid conclusion, and shall afterwards cause repairs to be executed wherever the buildings have become broken or worn out 1.

3.
'And thus, O Bhikkhus, is the work to be given in charge. In the first place a Bhikkhu is to be asked (whether he will undertake the duty). When he has been asked, some able and discreet Bhikkhu is to lay the matter before the Sa"m"gha, saying, "Let the venerable Sa"m"gha hear me. If the time seems meet to the Sa"m"gha, let the Sa"m"gha give in charge to such and such a Bhikkhu the Vihra of such and such a householder as a navakamma"m". This is the motion ("atti). Let the venerable Sa"m"gha hear me. The Sa"m"gha hereby gives in charge.... ( whosoever approves not ther, let him speak. The Sa"m"gha has given in charge.... (&c., as before). Therefore is it silent. Thus do I understand."'

Footnotes

189:5
Navakamma"m" karonti. This idiom always connotes buildings for the use of the Order. See the passages quoted in our note on "K"ullavagga I, 18, I. If the buildings were for the Bhikkhus, then a Bhikkhu, if for the Bhikkhuns, then a Bhikkhun, was appointed to superintend the works in order to ensure the p. 190 buildings being in accordance with the rules of the Order as to size, form, and object of the various apartments.

The buildings referred to in this section are no doubt intended to be the same as those referred to in "K"ullavagga V, 13, 3.

190:1
Navakamma"m" dtu"m". For the works which ought not to be included, and for those which might be lawfully included. in this term, see below, "K"ullavagga VI, 17. Hence the overseer is called navakammika.

191:1
Kha"n"d"an ti bhinnokso: phullan ti phalitokso (B.). The expression recurs below at Vi, 17, I.
the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ| the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ
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