Monks’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 73 (PLI-TV-BU-VB-PC73)

… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six monks, thinking: “Let them understand that having indulged in bad habits, we are fallen through ignorance,” while the Pātimokkha was being recited, spoke thus: “Only now do we understand that this rule is, as is said, handed down in a clause, contained in a clause, (and) comes up for recitation every half-month.”

Those who were modest monks … spread it about, saying: “How can this group of six monks speak thus while the Pātimokkha is being recited … ‘… every half-month’?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that you spoke thus while the Pātimokkha was being recited …’ … every half-month’?”

“It is true, lord.”

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

“How can you, foolish men, speak thus while the Pātimokkha is being recited: ‘… every half-month’? It is not, foolish men, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:

“Whatever monk, while the Pātimokkha is being recited every half-month, should speak thus: ‘Only now do I understand that this rule is, as is said, handed down in a clause, contained in a clause, (and) comes up for recitation every half-month’; if other monks should know concerning this monk that this monk has sat down two or three times before, not to say oftener, while the Pātimokkha was being recited, there is not only no freedom for that monk on account of (his) ignorance, but he ought to be dealt with according to the rule for the offence into which he has fallen there, and further confusion should be put on him, saying: ‘Your reverence, this is bad for you, this is badly gotten by you, that you, while the Pātimokkha is being recited, do not attend applying yourself properly.’ This for him on whom the confusion is put is an offence of expiation.”

Whatever means: … monk is to be understood in this case.

Every half-month means: every Observance day.

When the Pātimokkha is being recited means: when reciting it.

Should speak thus means: if he, thinking, “Let them understand that, having indulged in bad habits, I am fallen through ignorance,” speaks thus, while the Pātimokkha is being recited, “Only now do I understand … every half-month,” there is an offence of wrong-doing.

If … this means: the monk whom they desire to confuse.

Monks should know (concerning this monk) that he has sat down … further confusion should be put on him. And thus, monks, should it be put on him: the Order should be informed by an experienced, competent monk, saying: ‘Honoured sirs, let the Order listen to me. This monk so and so, while the Pātimokkha was being recited, did not attend applying himself properly. If it seems right to the Order, the Order should put confusion on the monk so and so. This is the motion. Honoured sirs, let the Order listen to me. This monk … did not attend applying himself properly. The Order is putting confusion on the monk so and so. If the putting of confusion on the monk so and so is pleasing to the venerable ones, let them be silent; if it is not pleasing, you should speak. Confusion is put on the monk so and so by the Order, and it is right … So do I understand this.’

If he confuses when confusion is not put on him, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he confuses when confusion is put on him, there is an offence of expiation.

If he thinks that it is a legally valid act when it is a legally valid act (and) confuses him, there is an offence of expiation. If he is in doubt as to whether it is a legally valid act … If he thinks that it is not a legally valid act when it is a legally valid act (and) confuses him, there is an offence of expiation. If he thinks that it is a legally valid act when it is not a legally valid act (and) confuses him, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he is in doubt as to whether it is not a legally valid act (and) confuses him, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he thinks that it is not a legally valid act when it is not a legally valid act, there is an offence of wrong-doing.

There is no offence if he is not heard in detail; if he is heard in detail (but) less than two or three times; if he does not desire to confuse; if he is mad, if he is the first wrong-doer.

The Third

The Book of the Discipline was translated by I.B. Horner.

Digital edition prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato

A complete digital edition can be downloaded here.

Published in 2014 by SuttaCentral.

Originally published by the Pali Text Society in the following years:

Vol. 1: 1938

Vol. 2: 1940

Vol. 3: 1942

Vol. 4: 1951

Vol. 5: 1950

Vol. 6: 1966

In May 2013, these volumes were kindly released by the Pali Text Society under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 licence (CC BY-NC 3.0). The current digital edition, including all revisions, corrections, additions, and modifications, is released under the same terms, which are as follows.

You are free to:

Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.

Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material.

The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.

NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.

No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.