[146] Regarding the Vinaya, which is of great benefit,
which brings ease to the well-behaved,
regarding restraints for those with evil desires,
supports for those with a sense of shame,
also upholding the dispensation,
the proper range of the victorious, all-knowing one,
the secure realm — there is no other —
well-laid down, not subject to doubt,
regarding the Khandakas, the Vinaya,
the Parivara, and the Matika:
The skillful one,
doing what is in line with the goal, [or: his benefit]
practices appropriately.
One who doesn’t know cows
can’t look after a herd of them.
In the same way, not knowing virtue,
how could one maintain restraint?
If the discourses are forgotten,
and at the same time the Abhidhamma,
but the Vinaya is not destroyed,
The dispensation will still remain.
So, for the purpose of gathering
a list, step-by-step,
I will recite in line with my knowledge:
Listen to me speak.
The base, the origin story, the offense,
methods, and even the ellipses:
Learn it methodically,
this which is hard to do —
to not leave anything out.
Awakening, the Rājāyatana tree,
the Goatherd’s Banyan tree, Sahampati,
the brahman, Āḷāra and Uddaka,
the monk and the seer Upaka.
Koṇḍañño, Bhaddiyo, and Vappo,
Mahānāmo and Assaji,
Yasa, the four, the fifty:
He sent them all to faraway places.
The case (of Going-forth and Acceptance),
with Māra, and the thirty,
three coiled-hairs at Uruvelā,
a fire-hall, the Great Kings,
Sakka, the Brahmā, the whole area.
Cast-off cloth, a reservoir,
a rock, a Kakudha tree, (another) rock,
a rose-apple, a mango, a myrobalan,
a flower — he brought them.
“May they be split!
May they be lit!
May they go out, Kassapa!”
They submerged, heaters, a cloud,
Gayā, saplings, and the Magadhan.
Upatissa, Kolita,
well-known, they went forth.
Poorly dressed, dismissal,
the thin and wretched brahman.
He engaged in misbehavior,
a stomach, a young brahman, a group,
Rains, by one inexperienced, they went away,
ten rains, dependence.
They didn’t behave rightly, to dismiss,
inexperienced, a lapse, five and six,
Those who are (from) other (religions),
the naked,
uncut, coiled-hair, and a Sakyan.
Five diseases among the Magadhans,
one in service, a criminal, a finger.
The Magadhan allowed it,
prison [shackles], a warrant, one who was whipped.
Branded, a debtor, and a slave,
shaven-headed, Upāli, and cholera,
a family with conviction, Kaṇṭaka,
and crowded.
To live (in dependence), the boy, training rules.
They lived (without respect) — what (should be done)?
The entire (monastery), the mouth, preceptors,
luring away, and Kaṇṭaka.
[1]
A paṇḍaka, a thief, gone away,
a snake, (killer of) mother and father,
an arahant, a bhikkhunī, a split,
blood, and a hermaphrodite.
Without a preceptor, with the Saṅgha,
a group, a paṇḍaka, one without a bowl,
without robes, or both of those,
the three with borrowed (requisites).
Hand, foot, hand and foot,
ear, nose, both of those,
finger, big toe/thumb, tendon,
webbed fingers, bent over, a dwarf.
Those with goiters, those who had been branded,
whipped, with a warrant, one with club foot/elephantiasis,
evil (illness) and a disgracer of the assembly,
Blind in one eye and with a crooked limb.
Lame, and one half-paralyzed,
crippled,
old, blind, dumb, deaf,
those there who are blind and dumb.
One called blind and deaf,
also dumb and deaf,
and blind, dumb, and deaf.
Dependence of the shameless.
One should live (in dependence), and then on the road,
By one requesting, consideration,
May he come! They argued.
With one preceptor, and Kassapa.
There were to be seen those accepted,
oppressed with diseases.
Uninstructed, they were bashful,
right there, the instruction.
In the Saṅgha, and then one inexperienced,
unauthorized, and together.
May it raise me up, and Acceptance,
supports, alone, the three (who came back).
In this khandhaka the cases,
are one hundred and seventy-two.
The Mnemonic Verses of the Great Khandhaka are finished.