(Mv.II.20.1) [179] Now on that occasion, on the day of the Uposatha, in a certain residence the Uposatha hall was dirty. Incoming monks criticized and complained and spread it about, “How can these monks not sweep the Uposatha hall?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow you to sweep the Uposatha hall.”

(Mv.II.20.2) Then the thought occurred to the monks, “By whom should the Uposatha hall be swept?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow the senior monk to order a junior monk.”

The junior monks, being ordered by the senior monk, didn’t sweep it. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“One who is not sick and has been ordered by a senior monk should not not sweep. Whoever does not sweep: an offense of wrong doing.”

(Mv.II.20.3) Now on that occasion there were no seats laid out in the Uposatha hall. The monks sat on the ground. Their bodies and robes got dusty. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow you to lay out seats in the Uposatha hall.”

Then the thought occurred to the monks, “By whom should the seats be laid out?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow the senior monk to order a junior monk.”

The junior monks, being ordered by the senior monk, didn’t lay out the seats. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“One who is not sick and has been ordered by a senior monk should not not lay out seats. Whoever does not lay them out: an offense of wrong doing.”

(Mv.II.20.4) Now on that occasion there was no light in the Uposatha hall. In the darkness[2], monks stepped on (each other’s) bodies and robes.[3] They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow you to make a light in the Uposatha hall.”

Then the thought occurred to the monks, “By whom should the light be made?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow the senior monk to order a junior monk.”

The junior monks, being ordered by the senior monk, didn’t light a lamp. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“One who is not sick and has been ordered by a senior monk should not not light a lamp. Whoever does not light a lamp: an offense of wrong doing.”

(Mv.II.20.5) Now on that occasion, at a certain monastery, the monks — inexperienced, incompetent — didn’t set out drinking water or washing water.[4] Incoming monks criticized and complained and spread it about, “How can the resident monks not set out drinking water or washing water?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow you to set out drinking water and washing water.”

(Mv.II.20.6) Then the thought occurred to the monks, “By whom should the drinking water and washing water be set out?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow the senior monk to order a junior monk.”

The junior monks, being ordered by the senior monk, didn’t set it out. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“One who is not sick and has been ordered by a senior monk should not not set it out. Whoever does not set it out: an offense of wrong doing.”