Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Sekhiya 55: Not to hold a drinking vessel with a soiled hand.
- Translated from the Pali by I.B. Horner.
Now at that time the enlightened one, the lord, was staying among the Bhaggā on Suṃsumāra Hill in the Bhesakaḷā Grove in the deer-park. Now at that time the monks in the Kokanada palace accepted a drinking cup, their hands (soiled) with food. People … spread it about, saying: "How can these recluses, sons of the Sakyans, accept a drinking cup, their hands (soiled) with food, like householders who enjoy pleasures of the senses?" Monks heard these people who … spread it about. Those who were modest monks … spread it about, saying: "How can these monks accept a drinking cup, their hands (soiled) with food?" …
"Is it true, as is said, that you, monks, accepted a drinking cup, your hands (soiled) with food?"
"It is true, lord."
The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying:
"How can you, foolish men, accept a drinking cup, your hands (soiled) with food? It is not, foolish men, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:
‘I will not accept a drinking cup, my hands (soiled) with food,’ is a training to be observed."
One should not accept a drinking cup, the hands (soiled) with food. Whoever out of disrespect accepts a drinking cup, the hands (soiled) with food, there is an offence of wrong-doing.
There is no offence if it is unintentional, if he is not thinking, if he does not know, if he is ill, if he accepts it, thinking, ‘I will wash’ or ‘I will get (someone) to wash (my hand),’ if there are accidents, if he is mad, if he is the first wrong-doer.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye. tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū kokanade pāsāde sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṃ paṭiggaṇhanti. manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṃ paṭiggahessanti, seyyathāpi gihī kāmabhogino"ti.
2 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tesaṃ manussānaṃ ujjhāyantānaṃ khiyyantānaṃ vipācentānaṃ. ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma bhikkhū sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṃ paṭiggahessantī"ti … pe … "saccaṃ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṃ paṭiggaṇhantī"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṃ paṭiggahessanti. netaṃ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
3 "na sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṃ paṭiggahessāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā"ti. (55:200)
4 na sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālako paṭiggahetabbo. yo anādariyaṃ paṭicca sāmisena hatthena pānīyathālakaṃ paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
5 anāpatti— asañcicca, assatiyā, ajānantassa, gilānassa, "dhovissāmī"ti vā "dhovāpessāmī"ti vā paṭiggaṇhāti, āpadāsu, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.