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Mv I 36
PTS: Mv I 49 | CS: vin.mv.01.36
Upālidārakavatthu
The Story of the Boy Upāli[1]
by
Ven. Khematto Bhikkhu
Alternate translations/layout: 'line by line' Pāḷi - English

(Mv.I.49.1) [111] “Now at that time in Rājagaha, a group of seventeen boys were friends, with the boy Upāli as their leader.Then the thought occurred to Upāli’s parents, “By what strategy could Upāli, after our death, live pleasantly and not wear himself out?”

(Mv.I.49.2) Then the thought occurred to Upāli’s parents, “If he studies writing, in this way, after our death, he will live pleasantly and not wear himself out.”

Then the thought occurred to Upāli’s parents, “If he studies writing, his fingers will hurt. If he studies calculation, in this way, after our death, he will live pleasantly and not wear himself out.”

Then the thought occurred to Upāli’s parents, “If he studies calculation, his breast will hurt. If he studies money changing [or: art], in this way, after our death, he will live pleasantly and not wear himself out.”

Then the thought occurred to Upāli’s parents, “If he studies money changing, his eyes will hurt.

“Now, these Sakyan-son monks are of pleasant virtue and conduct. Having eaten good meals, they lie down in beds sheltered from the wind.

“If Upāli went forth among the Sakyan-son monks, he would live pleasantly after our death and not wear himself out.”

(Mv.I.49.3) The boy Upāli heard his parents’ conversation.So he went to the boys and, on arrival, said, “Come, masters, let’s go forth among the Sakyan-son contemplatives.”

“If you go forth, master, so will we.”

So each of the boys, having gone to his parents, said, “Allow us to go forth from home into homelessness.”

Then the parents of the boys allowed them, (thinking,) “All these boys are unanimous in their desire. Their motives are good.”

Having gone to the monks, they asked for the Going-forth. The monks gave them the Going-forth, gave them Acceptance.

(Mv.I.49.4) Then, waking up in the last watch of the night, they cried out, “Give us conjey! Give us a meal! Give us food!”

“The monks said, ‘Wait, friends, until the night turns light.[2]

“If there is conjey, you will drink it. If there is a meal, you will eat it. If there is food, you will eat it.

“But if there is no conjey or meal or food, then you will eat having gone for alms.”

“But even then, those monks, being spoken to by the monks, cried out as before, ‘Give us conjey! Give us a meal! Give us food!’

And they wet the bedding and soiled it.

(Mv.I.49.5) Then, waking up in the last watch of the night, the Blessed One heard the sound of the boys and, on hearing it, addressed Ven. Ānanda, “Ānanda, is that the sound of boys?”

Then Ven. Ānanda reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Is it true, monks, that the monks knowingly gave Acceptance to an individual less than twenty years old?”

“It’s true, O Blessed One.”

The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them “Monks, how can these worthless men knowingly give Acceptance to an individual less than twenty years old?”

(Mv.I.49.6) “Monks, an individual less than twenty years old is not resistant to cold, heat, hunger, thirst, the touch of flies and mosquitoes, wind and sun and creeping things; or to abusive, hurtful language.

“He is not the sort who can endure bodily feelings that, when they arise, are painful, sharp, stabbing, fierce, distasteful, disagreeable, deadly.

“Monks, an individual twenty years old is resistant to cold, heat, hunger, thirst, the touch of flies and mosquitoes, wind and sun and creeping things; or to abusive, hurtful language.

“He is the sort who can endure bodily feelings that, when they arise, are painful, sharp, stabbing, fierce, distasteful, disagreeable, deadly.

“Monks, this neither inspires faith in the faithless …”

Having rebuked him and given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks:

“Monks, an individual less than twenty years old should not knowingly be given Acceptance. Whoever should give him Acceptance is to be dealt with in accordance with the rule.”[3]

Notes

1.
See also BMCII: Chap. 14: Age requirements.
2.
bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu āgametha āvuso yāva, ME inserts here: "ratti" vibhāyati
3.
See also Pc 65.
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