Translation of culavaggapali-chapter 11--Sangiti nidanam(exposition of communion recital)

1) Sangiti nidanam(exposition of communion recital)

Now Indeed venerable mahakassapa addressed to the monks--Friends, Once upon a time, I was travelling from pava to kusinara through a long path(high road), along with venerable community of 500 monks. Friends, I was then sitting at the root of one of certain number of tree after having gone aside that path.
Now at that time there a certain ajivika was travelling to pava from kusinara along the same long path , he was taking along with him flowers of coral tree(mandarava-puppha) .
From a distance I saw that ajivika arriving towards me.Having seen that ajivika,I said this---Friend do you know of our teacher?
"Certainly I do, friend. Today it has been a week since the samana gotama attained parinibbana.Therefore I am taking along this manadarava flower".
Friends there the monks who were not free from passion,some started weeping with their arms having held up,fell down as if they were cut down,turning forward and backward,being upset---that too soon the blessed one attained parinibbana, too soon the well faring one attained parinibbana,too soon the visionary disappeared from this world .

But whatever those bhikkhus who were passionless they were thoughtful and were enduring thusly---Impermanent are the formation, therefore what else can one obtain

Now Indeed, friends, those bhikkhus said this--- Enough, stop, friends, Dont grieve.do not wail.
Dont you know that blessed one previously cautioned us by announcing ---Everything even, one which is a dear thing, pleasing has to be separated,how can it be otherwise.How can one obtain otherwise friends, that which is born and becomes and conditioned and which breaks off(dissolutes), that surely doesnt decays this condition cannot be found
Friends, now but at that time a certain named subbhadda, who had gone forth in old age was sitting down in the assembly. now friends, subbhadda the one who had gone forth in old age addressed this to monks---Enough, stop , friends, do not grieve, do not lament.Well released we are from that great samana ascetic who used to annoy us by oblations( and saying) ---This is fit
and seeming and proper and this is not.Now but we can do whatever we desire ,and not do whatever we dont desire.
Well then, come along friends,we should rehearse/chant the dhamma and vinaya.Before false doctrine shines and dhamma declines; before false discipline shines and vinaya declines;before the speak of false doctrine becomes stronger and speaker of dhamma becomes weaker;before the speaker of false discipline becomes stronger and speaker of vinaya becomes weaker.

Because of that,Venerable ,elder monks were chosen.Now indeed,Mahakassapa selected one less than five hundred arahants.Monks addressed this to the venerable Mahakassapa--Sir,this person, venerable ananda however much is a learner;its impossible he has gone to wrong course of impulse,fault,delusion,fear. And mostly he(being) in the presence of blessed one has the learning/comprehension of dhamma and vinaya. On account of this , sirs, the venerable elder ananda must be selected. Now indeed venerable Mahakassapa selected also venerable ananda.
Now to the elder monks it occured that---where should then we rehearse the dhamma-vinaya?
Then it occured to them that---indeed at rajagaha is a sufficient dwelling and suitable bigger place,what if we were to rehearse dhamma and vinaya in rajagaha while abiding there during rainy season. No Other monks should be allowed to approach( or undertake) during the rainy abiding in rajagaha.

Now Indeed, venerable mahakassapa announced to the community of monks----
"Friends, community of monks hear me. If for the community of monks it is right occassion,then let the sangha authorise these five hundred monks so as for the rainy dwelling in rajagaha to rehearse the dhamma and vinaya and no other monk should be allowed to abide in that rainy retreat.This is announcement"
"Friends, community of monks hear me. Consent is for these five hundred monks so as for the rainy dwelling in rajagaha to rehearse the dhamma and vinaya and no other monk should be allowed to abide in that rainy retreat.If the venerable ones approve then it is the general consensus for five hundred monks --so as for the rainy dwelling in rajagaha to rehearse the dhamma and vinaya and no other monk should be allowed to abide in that rainy retreat.--
Those who approve of that be silent otherwise speak."
"Selected by the community these five hundred monks would be at rainy dwelling in rajagaha to rehearse the dhamma and vinaya and that no other monk would allowed to abide in that rainy retreat. Community approves hence it is silent this is how I understand"
Now Indeed the elder monks arrived at rajagaha for rehearsing dhamma and vinaya.Now this occurred to the elder monks--"Friends,Blessed one has praised about restoration of broken and shattered portion ( of building).Friends, well then we should restore the broken and shattered portion during the first month( of rainy season);second month having assembled together we would rehearse the dhamma and vinaya".
So indeed the elder monks restored the broken and shattered buildings during the first month.
Now venerable Ananda (thought)--tomorrow is the assembly( of monks).it wont be befitting for me or any person who is still like a learner to go to the assembly
Entire night he was mindful of the body, having spent time during night , during dawn he lied down observing the body,.but before his head reached the pillow, and while his feet were still far from the ground,in that interval without grasping his mind was liberated from defilements.
Now venerable ananda like an arahant arrived at the congregation.There Mahakassapa announced to the sangha---
Friends, Sangha, listen to me.If this occasion seems right to the community then I would like to ask upali questions on vinaya--
Venerable upali announced to the sangha--
Listen to me Venerable , Community.If the occasion seems right to the community, then I would like to answer the questions on Vinaya by venerable Mahakassapa.

Now Venerable Mahakassapa said this to venerable Upali---Friend Upali,where was the first regulation for parajika( trangression) made"? "Venerable at Vesali"
"What was its cause or beginning" "Sudinna son of Kalanda was its cause" "What was its ground or plot?" " regarding sexual intercourse dhamma".

So Venerable Mahakassapa asked Venerable Upali regarding first parajika its ground,its exposition,the person, and the notion and description, its supplementary regulation,its ecclesiastical offence and its not ecclesiastical offence

Again, venerable Upâli, where was the second Pârâjika promulgated?'

'At Râjagaha, Sir.'

'Concerning whom was it spoken?'

'Dhaniya, the potter's son.'

'In regard to what matter?'

'The taking of that which had not been given "

Thus did the venerable Mahâ Kassapa question the venerable Upâli as to the matter, and as to the occasion, and as to the individual concerned, and as to the (principal) rule, and as to the sub-rule, and as to who would be guilty, and as to who would be innocent of the second Pârâjika.

'Again, venerable Upâli, where was the third Pârâjika promulgated?'

'At Vesâlî, Sir.'

'Concerning whom was it spoken?'

'A number of Bhikkhus.'

'In regard to what matter?'

'Human beings

Thus did the venerable Mahâ Kassapa question the venerable Upâli as to [all the particulars, as before] of the third Pârâjika.

'Again, venerable Upâli, where was the fourth Pârâjika promulgated?'

'At Vesâlî, Sir.'

'Concerning whom was it spoken?'

'The Bhikkhus dwelling on the banks of the Vaggumudâ river.'

'In regard to what matter?'

'Superhuman conditions.'

Thus did the venerable Mahâ Kassapa question the venerable Upâli as to [all the particulars, as before] of the fourth Pârâjika. And in like manner did he question him through both the Vinayas and as he was successively asked, so did Upâli make reply.

8. Then the venerable Mahâ Kassapa laid a resolution before the Sangha: 'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. if the occasion is right to the Sangha, I would question Ânanda concerning the Dhamma.'

And the venerable Ânanda laid a resolution before the Sangha: 'Let the venerable Sangha hear me. If the occasion is right to the Sangha, I, as questioned by the venerable Mahâ Kassapa, will give reply.'

And the venerable Mahâ Kassapa said to the venerable Ânanda: 'Where, venerable Ânanda, was the Brahmajâla spoken?'

'On the way, Sir, between Rajagaha and Nalanda, at the royal rest-house at Ambalatthikâ (mango groves)

'Concerning whom was it spoken?'

'Suppiya, the wandering ascetic, and Brahmadatta, the young Brâhman.'

Thus did the venerable Mahâ Kassapa question

the venerable Ânanda as to the occasion of the Brahmajâla, and as to the individuals concerning whom it was spoken.

'And again, venerable Ânanda, where was the Sâmañña-phala spoken?'

'At Râjagaha, Sir; in jîvaka's Mango Grove.'

'And with whom was it spoken?'

'With Ajâtasattu, the son of the Vedehî.'

Thus did the venerable Mahâ Kassapa question the venerable Ânanda as to the occasion of the Sâmañña-phala, and as to the individual concerned. And in like manner did he question him through the five Nikâyas, and as he was successively asked, so did Ânanda make reply.

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