Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Pācittiya 57: Not to wash more than twice per month if the body is not dirty.
- Translated from the Pali by I.B. Horner.
… at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove at the squirrels’ feeding-place. Now at that time monks used to bathe in the Tapodā. Now at that time King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, thinking: "I will bathe (my) head," having gone to the Tapodā, waited for (them) at a respectful distance, thinking: "(I will wait) as long as the masters bathe." The monks bathed until the dark of the night. Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, bathing (his) head at the wrong time, staying outside the town because the town gate was closed, when it was early morning approached the lord, anointed, perfumed; having approached, having greeted the lord, he sat down at a respectful distance. As he was sitting down at a respectful distance, the lord spoke thus to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha:
"Why do you, sire, come in the early morning, anointed, perfumed?"
Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha told this matter to the lord. Then the lord roused … delighted King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha with dhamma-talk. Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, having been roused … delighted by the lord with dhamma-talk, rising from his seat, greeting the lord, departed keeping his right side towards him. Then the lord on this occasion, in this connection, having had the Order of monks convened, questioned the monks, saying:
"Is it true, as is said, monks, that monks, though having seen the king, not knowing moderation, bathed?"
The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying:
"How, monks, can these foolish men, though having seen the king, not knowing moderation, bathe? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:
"Whatever monk should bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month, there is an offence of expiation."
And thus this rule of training for monks came to be laid down by the lord.
Now at that time monks, being scrupulous, did not bathe in the hot weather, in the fever weather; they lay down with limbs covered with sweat; robes and lodgings got soiled. They told this matter to the lord. He said:
"I allow you, monks, in the hot weather, in the fever weather, to bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month. And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:
"Whatever monk should bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month, except at a right time, there is an offence of expiation. This is a right time in this case: thinking, ‘a month and a half of the summer remains,’ (and) ‘the first month of the rains’—these are the two and a half months when there is hot weather, when there is fever weather. In this case this is a right time."
And thus this rule of training for monks came to be laid down by the lord.
Now at that time monks became ill. Monks, inquiring after the ill ones, spoke thus to the ill monks: "We hope that your reverences are better, we hope that you are keeping going."
Formerly, your reverences, we used to bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month; thus there came to be comfort for us. But now it is forbidden by the lord, (and) being scrupulous, we do not bathe; thus there comes to be no comfort for us."
They told this matter to the lord. He said:
"I allow you, monks, when a monk is ill, to bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month. And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:
"Whatever monk should bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month, except at a right time, there is an offence of expiation. This is a right time in this case … when there is fever weather, at a time of illness. In this case this is a right time."
And thus this rule of training for monks came to be laid down by the lord.
Now at that time monks making repairs, being scrupulous, did not bathe; they lay down with limbs covered with sweat; robes and lodgings got soiled. They told this matter to the lord. He said:
"I allow you, monks, at a time of work, to bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month. And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:
"Whatever monk should bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month, except at a right time, there is an offence of expiation … "
And thus this rule of training for monks came to be laid down by the lord.
Now at that time monks, having gone on a journey, being scrupulous, did not bathe; they lay down with limbs covered with sweat … They told this matter to the lord. He said:
"I allow you, monks, at a time of going on a journey, to bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month. And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:
"Whatever monk should bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month, except at a right time, there is an offence of expiation. This is a right time in this case: … "
And thus this rule of training for monks came to be laid down by the lord.
Now at that time several monks, making robes in the open air, became assailed by a dusty wind, and the god was raining little by little. The monks, being scrupulous, did not-bathe; they lay down with damp limbs; robes and lodgings got soiled. They told this matter to the lord. He said:
"I allow you, monks, at a time of wind and rain, to bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month. And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:
"Whatever monk should bathe (at intervals of) less than half a month, except at a right time, there is an offence of expiation. In this case this is a right time: thinking, ‘a month and a half of the summer remains,’ (and) ‘the first month of the rains’—these are the two and a half months when there is hot weather, when there is fever weather; at a time of illness, at a time of work, at a time of going on a journey, at a time of wind and rain. This is a right time in this case."
Whatever means: … is monk to be understood in this case.
Less than half a month means: less than half a month.
Should bathe means: if he bathes with chunam or with clay, in each action there is an offence of wrong-doing; when the bathing is completed there is an offence of expiation.
Except at a right time means: setting a right time to one side.
Hot weather means: a month and a half of the summer remains. Fever weather means: the first month of the rains. Thinking, ‘these are the two and a half months when there is hot weather, when there is fever weather,’ there may be bathing.
Time of illness means: if there comes to be no comfort for one without bathing; thinking, ‘it is a time of illness,’ there may be bathing.
Time of work means: even a cell comes to be cleaned; thinking, ‘it is a time of work,’ there may be bathing.
Time of going on a journey means: saying, ‘we will go half a yojana,’ there may be bathing; there may be bathing when going, there may be bathing when gone.
Time of wind and rain means:
if monks become assailed by a dusty wind, if two or three drops of rain come to be fallen on the body, thinking, ‘it is a time of wind and rain,’ there may be bathing.
If he thinks that it is less when it is less than half a month, (and) bathes, except at a right time, there is an offence of expiation. If he is in doubt as to whether it is less than half a month … If he thinks that it is more when it is less than half a month … offence of expiation. If he thinks that it is less when it is more than half a month, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he is in doubt as to whether it is more than half a month, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he thinks that it is more when it is more than half a month, there is no offence.
There is no offence if it is at a right time; if he bathes at (intervals of) the half-month; if he bathes (at intervals of) more than half a month; if he bathes going to the further bank; if he is in nothing but bordering districts; if there are accidents; if he is mad, if he is the first wrong-doer.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū tapode nahāyanti. tena kho pana samayena rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro "sīsaṃ nahāyissāmī"ti tapodaṃ gantvā— "yāvāyyā nahāyantī"ti ekamantaṃ paṭimānesi. bhikkhū yāva samandhakārā nahāyiṃsu. atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro vikāle sīsaṃ nahāyitvā, nagaradvāre thakite bahinagare vasitvā, kālasseva asambhinnena vilepanena yena bhagavā tenupasankami; upasankamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. ekamantaṃ nisinnaṃ kho rājānaṃ māgadhaṃ seniyaṃ bimbisāraṃ bhagavā etadavoca— "kissa tvaṃ, mahārāja, kālasseva āgato asambhinnena vilepanenā"ti? atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesi. atha kho bhagavā rājānaṃ māgadhaṃ seniyaṃ bimbisāraṃ dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṃsesi. atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṃsito uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṃ katvā pakkāmi.
2 atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṇghaṃ sannipātāpetvā bhikkhū paṭipucchi— "saccaṃ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū rājānampi passitvā na mattaṃ jānitvā nahāyantī"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā rājānampi passitvā na mattaṃ jānitvā nahāyissanti. netaṃ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
3 "yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyeyya, pācittiyan"ti.
4 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
5 tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū uṇhasamaye pariḷāhasamaye kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti, sedagatena gattena sayanti. cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … anujānāmi, bhikkhave, uṇhasamaye pariḷāhasamaye orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
6 "yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo pariḷāhasamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti.
7 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
8 tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū gilānā honti. gilānapucchakā bhikkhū gilāne bhikkhū etadavocuṃ— "kaccāvuso, khamanīyaṃ, kacci yāpanīyan"ti? "pubbe mayaṃ, āvuso, orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyāma, tena no phāsu hoti; idāni pana ‘bhagavatā paṭikkhittan’ti kukkuccāyantā na nahāyāma, tena no na phāsu hotī"ti. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānena bhikkhunā orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
9 "yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti.
10 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
11 tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū navakammaṃ katvā kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti. te sedagatena gattena sayanti. cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … anujānāmi, bhikkhave, kammasamaye orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
12 "yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo, kammasamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti.
13 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
14 tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū addhānaṃ gantvā kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti. te sedagatena gattena sayanti. cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … anujānāmi, bhikkhave, addhānagamanasamaye orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
15 "yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo, kammasamayo, addhānagamanasamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti.
16 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
17 tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū ajjhokāse cīvarakammaṃ karontā sarajena vātena okiṇṇā honti. devo ca thokaṃ thokaṃ phusāyati. bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti, kilinnena gattena sayanti. cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … anujānāmi, bhikkhave, vātavuṭṭhisamaye orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
18 "yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṃ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo, kammasamayo, addhānagamanasamayo, vātavuṭṭhisamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti. (57:106)
19 yo panāti yo yādiso … pe … bhikkhūti … pe … ayaṃ imasmiṃ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
20 orenaddhamāsanti ūnakaddhamāsaṃ.
21 nahāyeyyāti cuṇṇena vā mattikāya vā nahāyati, payoge payoge dukkaṭaṃ. nahānapariyosāne, āpatti pācittiyassa.
22 aññatra samayāti ṭhapetvā samayaṃ.
23 uṇhasamayo nāma diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānaṃ. pariḷāhasamayo nāma vassānassa paṭhamo māso "iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo pariḷāhasamayo"ti nahāyitabbaṃ.
24 gilānasamayo nāma yassa vinā nahānena na phāsu hoti. gilānasamayoti nahāyitabbaṃ.
25 kammasamayo nāma antamaso pariveṇampi sammaṭṭhaṃ hoti. "kammasamayo"ti nahāyitabbaṃ.
26 addhānagamanasamayo nāma "addhayojanaṃ gacchissāmī"ti nahāyitabbaṃ, gacchantena nahāyitabbaṃ, gatena nahāyitabbaṃ.
27 vātavuṭṭhisamayo nāma bhikkhū sarajena vātena okiṇṇā honti, dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni kāye patitāni honti. "vātavuṭṭhisamayo"ti nahāyitabbaṃ.
28 ūnakaddhamāse ūnakasaññī, aññatra samayā, nahāyati, āpatti pācittiyassa. ūnakaddhamāse vematiko, aññatra samayā, nahāyati, āpatti pācittiyassa. ūnakaddhamāse atirekasaññī, aññatra samayā, nahāyati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
29 atirekaddhamāse ūnakasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. atirekaddhamāse vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. atirekaddhamāse atirekasaññī, anāpatti.
30 anāpatti— samaye, addhamāsaṃ nahāyati, atirekaddhamāsaṃ nahāyati, pāraṃ gacchanto nahāyati, sabbapaccantimesu janapadesu, āpadāsu, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.