Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules

Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Pācittiya 50: Not to witness military activities.

  • Translated from the Pali by I.B. Horner.

… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six monks, staying with the army for two (or) three nights, went to a sham-fight and to the troops in array and to the massing of the army and to see a review. Then a certain monk of the group of six, having gone to a sham-fight, became pierced by an arrow. People made fun of that monk, saying:

"Honoured sir, we hope it was a good battle. How many targets were obtained by you?"

That monk, being made fun of by these people, became ashamed. People … spread it about, saying:

"How can these recluses, sons of the Sakyans, come to see a sham-fight? For us it is not profitable, and for us it is ill-gotten; such as we come to a sham-fight for the sake of livelihood, on account of child and wife."

Monks heard these people who … spread it about. Those who were modest monks … spread it about, saying:

"How can this group of six monks go to see a sham-fight?" …

"Is it true, as is said, that you, monks, went to see a sham-fight?"

"It is true, lord."

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

"How can you, foolish men, go to see a sham-fight? It is not, foolish men, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:


"If a monk, staying with the army for two nights, three nights, should go to a sham-fight or to the troops in array or to the massing of the army or to see a review, then is an offence of expiation."

If a monk, staying with the army for two nights, three nights means: staying for two (or) three nights.

Sham-fight means: where a conflict is seen.

Troops in array means: so many elephants, so many horses, so many chariots, so many infantry.

Massing of the army means: let elephants be on this side, let horses be on this side, let chariots be on this side, let foot-soldiers be on this side.

A review means: a review of elephants, a review of horses, a review of chariots, a review of infantry. The least elephant review (has) three elephants, the least horse review (has) three horses, the least chariot review (has) three chariots, the least infantry review (has) four men as infantry, hands on arrows.

If he goes to see, there is an offence of wrong-doing. Standing where he sees, there is an offence of expiation. If, having dismissed from sight, he sees again, there is an offence of expiation. If he goes to see one or other, there is an offence of wrong-doing. Standing where he sees, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If, having dismissed from sight, he sees again, there is an offence of wrong-doing.


There is no offence if, standing in the monastery, he sees; if a conflict is seen, having come to a place where a monk is resting or to a place where he is sitting down or to a place where he is lying down; if he, going along the opposite road, sees (it); if, going as there is something to be done, he sees (it); if there are accidents; if he is mad, if he is the first wrong-doer.

The Tenth


This is its key:

Cakes, talking, three on Upananda,
and also (the family who) supported (him),
Mahānāma, Pasenadi,
the army, pierced, these ten.

The Fifth Division: that on the Naked Ascetic

1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū dirattatirattaṃ senāya vasamānā uyyodhikampi balaggampi senābyūhampi anīkadassanampi gacchanti. aññataropi chabbaggiyo bhikkhu uyyodhikaṃ gantvā kaṇḍena paṭividdho hoti. manussā taṃ bhikkhuṃ uppaṇḍesuṃ—  "kacci, bhante, suyuddhaṃ ahosi, kati te lakkhāni laddhānī"ti? so bhikkhu tehi manussehi uppaṇḍiyamāno manku ahosi. manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—  "kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā uyyodhikaṃ dassanāya āgacchissanti. amhākampi alābhā, amhākampi dulladdhaṃ, ye mayaṃ ājīvassa hetu puttadārassa kāraṇā uyyodhikaṃ āgacchāmā"ti.

2 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tesaṃ manussānaṃ ujjhāyantānaṃ khiyyantānaṃ vipācentānaṃ. ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe …   te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—  "kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū uyyodhikaṃ dassanāya gacchissantī"ti … pe …   "saccaṃ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, uyyodhikaṃ dassanāya gacchathā"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe …   kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, uyyodhikaṃ dassanāya gacchissatha. netaṃ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha— 


3 "dirattatirattañce bhikkhu senāya vasamāno uyyodhikaṃ vā balaggaṃ vā senābyūhaṃ vā anīkadassanaṃ vā gaccheyya, pācittiyan"ti. (50:99)

4 dirattatirattañce bhikkhu senāya vasamānoti dvetisso rattiyo vasamāno.

5 uyyodhikaṃ nāma yattha sampahāro dissati.

6 balaggaṃ nāma ettakā hatthī, ettakā assā, ettakā rathā, ettakā pattī.

7 senābyūhaṃ nāma ito hatthī hontu, ito assā hontu, ito rathā hontu, ito pattikā hontu.

8 anīkaṃ nāma hatthānīkaṃ, assānīkaṃ, rathānīkaṃ, pattānīkaṃ. tayo hatthī pacchimaṃ hatthānīkaṃ, tayo assā pacchimaṃ assānīkaṃ, tayo rathā pacchimaṃ rathānīkaṃ, cattāro purisā sarahatthā pattī pacchimaṃ pattānīkaṃ. dassanāya gacchati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. yattha ṭhito passati, āpatti pācittiyassa. dassanūpacāraṃ vijahitvā punappunaṃ passati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

9 ekamekaṃ dassanāya gacchati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. yattha ṭhito passati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. dassanūpacāraṃ vijahitvā punappunaṃ passati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.


10 anāpatti—  ārāme ṭhito passati, bhikkhussa ṭhitokāsaṃ vā nisinnokāsaṃ vā nipannokāsaṃ vā āgantvā sampahāro dissati, paṭipathaṃ gacchanto passati, sati karaṇīye gantvā passati, āpadāsu, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.

11 uyyodhikasikkhāpadaṃ niṭṭhitaṃ dasamaṃ.
acelakavaggo pañcamo.

12 tassuddānaṃ


13 pūvaṃ kathopanandassa,
tayaṃpaṭṭhākameva ca;
mahānāmo pasenadi,
senāviddho ime dasāti.