(Mv.VIII.12.1) [149] Then the Blessed One, having stayed at Rājagaha as long as he liked, set out on a wandering tour toward Dakkhiṇāgiri. The Blessed One saw the fields of Magadha, divided into rectangles, divided into rows, divided by dikes, divided by intersections. On seeing them, he addressed Ven. Ānanda, “Ānanda, do you see the fields of Magadha, divided into rectangles, divided into rows, divided by dikes, divided by intersections?”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Try to design robes in this pattern for the monks.”
“I will try, Blessed One.”
Then the Blessed One, having stayed at Dakkhiṇāgiri for as long as he liked, returned to Rājagaha. Then Ven Ānanda, having procured robes for several monks, went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, said to him, “Lord, may the Blessed One look at the robes I have designed.”
(Mv.VIII.12.2) Then the Blessed One, having given a Dhamma talk with regard to this cause, to this incident, addressed the monks:
“Monks, Ānanda is wise. Ānanda has great discernment, in that he understands in detail the meaning of a brief statement made by me.
“He can make what is called a kusi (dike), half-kusi, maṇḍala (field-plot), half-maṇḍala, vivaṭṭa (turning-back), anuvivaṭṭa (following the vivaṭṭa), gīveyyaka (throat-piece), jaṇgheyyaka (calf-piece), and a bāhanta (armpiece). [1]
“They will be cut, made rough by the knife, suitable for a contemplative, not envied by enemies. [2]
“Monks, I allow a cut-up outer robe, a cut-up upper robe, a cut-up lower robe.”