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making many needle-cases, he cannot make other salable goods, nor can he support himself, and his wife and children suffer. People complain, grumble, and criticize: “How can these Sakyan ascetics, not knowing the measure, have many needle-cases made! This one, making many needle-cases, cannot make other salable goods, nor can he support himself, and his wife and children suffer.” The bhikkhus heard those people complaining, grumbling, and criticizing. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes… (and so on) … they complained, grumbled, and criticized: “How can bhikkhus, not knowing the measure, have many needle-cases made!” … (and so on) … “Is it true, bhikkhus, that bhikkhus, not knowing the measure, have many needle-cases made?” “It is true, Blessed One.” The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them… (and so on) … “How can these foolish men, bhikkhus, not knowing the measure, have many needle-cases made! This, bhikkhus, is not for the conversion of the unconverted… (and so on) … And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: 517. “Should any bhikkhu have a needle-case made of bone, or of ivory, or of horn, which is to be broken, it is an offense of pācittiya.” 518. “Should any” means whoever, whatever kind… (and so on) … “bhikkhu” means… (and so on) … this bhikkhu is intended in this context. “Bone” means any bone whatsoever. “Ivory” is said to be elephant tusk. “Horn” means any horn whatsoever. “Have made” means he makes it himself or has it made; there is a dukkaṭa offense in the attempt. Upon acquisition, after breaking it, the pācittiya offense should be confessed. 519. If he starts it himself and finishes it himself, there is an offense of pācittiya. If he starts it himself and has others finish it, there is an offense of pācittiya. If others start it and he finishes it himself, there is an offense of pācittiya. If others start it and have others finish it, there is an offense of pācittiya. If he makes it for another's sake or causes it to be made, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Having received what was made by another, he uses it, there is an offense of wrong-doing. 520. There is no offense in a knot, in a wilderness, in a snare, in an eye-salve box, in an eye-salve stick, in a carpenter's tool-basket, in a water-wiper, for one who is insane, for one who is the first wrong-doer. The training rule concerning the needle-case is finished, the fourth. 5. The Training Rule Concerning Couches and Chairs 521. At one time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. At that time, the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son was sleeping on a high couch. Then the Blessed One, wandering for alms with many bhikkhus, approached the dwelling of the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son. The Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son saw the Blessed One coming from afar. Having seen the Blessed One, he said this: "Let the Blessed One, venerable sir, come and see my bed." Then the Blessed One, turning back from there, addressed the bhikkhus: "By his dwelling, bhikkhus, the foolish man is to be known." Then the Blessed One, having rebuked the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan son in many ways for being difficult to support... and so, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule thus: 522. "When a bhikkhu is having a new couch or chair made, it should be made with legs eight finger-breadths high by the Sugata's finger-breadth, apart from the lower cross-bar; if he exceeds that, there is an offense of cutting, entailing expiation." 523. "New" is said with reference to making. "Couch" means four kinds of couches: the masāraka, the bundikābaddha, the kuḷīrapādaka, the āhaccapādaka. "Chair" means four kinds of chairs: the masāraka, the bundikābaddha, the kuḷīrapādaka, the āhaccapādaka. "Is having made" means making or causing to be made. "It should be made with legs eight finger-breadths high by the Sugata's finger-breadth, apart from the lower cross-bar" means excluding the lower cross-bar; if he makes it exceeding that, or or causes to be made, in the attempt, a dukkaṭa. Having received, having cut it, a pācittiya should be confessed. 524. If one finishes what one started oneself, an offense of pācittiya. If one finishes what one started oneself, by others, an offense of pācittiya. If one finishes what others started, by oneself, an offense of pācittiya. If one finishes what others started, by others, an offense of pācittiya. If one makes or causes to be made for another's sake, an offense of dukkaṭa. Having received what was made by another, one uses it, an offense of dukkaṭa. 525. No offense if one makes it to the proper measure, if one makes it less than the measure, if, having received what was made by another exceeding the measure, one cuts it and uses it, for one who is insane, for the first offender. The training rule concerning beds and chairs, the fifth, is finished. 6. The training rule concerning stuffed with cotton 526. At that time, the Buddha, the Blessed One, was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time, the group of six bhikkhus had beds and chairs stuffed with cotton made. People, wandering through the monastery, saw them and complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can these Sakyan recluses have beds and chairs stuffed with cotton made, just like householders who indulge in sensual pleasures!" The bhikkhus heard those people complaining, grumbling, and criticizing. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes…pe… they complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can the group of six bhikkhus have beds and chairs stuffed with cotton made!"…pe… "Is it true, bhikkhus, that you have beds and chairs stuffed with cotton made?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them…pe… "How can you, foolish men, have beds and chairs stuffed with cotton made! This, foolish men, is not for the conversion of the unconverted…pe… And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: 527. "Whatever bhikkhu a bed or a chair stuffed with cotton he should have it made, there is an offense of expiation for tearing it up." 528. "Whoever" means whoever, of whatever kind... "monk" means... this monk is intended in this context. A "bed" means four kinds of beds: a plain bed, a bed with bound legs, a crab-legged bed, a bed with detachable legs. A "stool" means four kinds of stools: a plain stool, a stool with bound legs, a crab-legged stool, a stool with detachable legs. "Cotton" means three kinds of cotton: tree cotton, creeper cotton, silk-cotton. "Should have it made" means he makes it or has it made, there is an offense of wrong-doing in the attempt. Having obtained it, and having torn it up, an offense of expiation should be declared. 529. If he finishes what he himself began, there is an offense of expiation. If others finish what he himself began, there is an offense of expiation. If he finishes what others began, there is an offense of expiation. If others finish what others began, there is an offense of expiation. If he makes or has it made for the sake of another, there is an offense of wrong-doing. If he obtains what another made and uses it, there is an offense of wrong-doing. 530. There is no offense for: a waist-band, a body-band, a shoulder-bag, a bowl-bag, a water-strainer, if he makes a pillow, if he obtains what another made, tears it up, and uses it, for a mad person, for the first offender. The training rule concerning cotton-stuffed articles is finished, the sixth. 7. The Training Rule Concerning Sitting-cloths 531. At that time, the Buddha, the Blessed One, was staying at Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. At that time, a sitting-cloth had been allowed by the Blessed One for the monks. The group of six monks, thinking "a sitting-cloth has been allowed by the Blessed One," wore sitting-cloths of immoderate size. They hung down in front and behind both the bed and the stool. Those monks who were of few wishes... they complained, grumbled, and criticized, "How can the group of six monks wear sitting-cloths of immoderate size?"... "Is it true, monks, that you wear sitting-cloths of immoderate size?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked… How can you, foolish men, carry unmeasured sitting cloths! This, foolish men, is not for the conversion of the unconverted… And thus, monks, you should recite this training rule – ‘‘A sitting cloth, if a monk is having it made, should be made to measure. Here is the measure – in length, two spans, by the Sugata-span; in width, one and a half. For one who exceeds that, there is an offense of cutting and expiation.’’ Thus this training rule was laid down by the Blessed One for the monks. 532. Now at that time, the venerable Udāyī was large-bodied. He, having spread out a sitting cloth before the Blessed One, sat down, gathering it all around him. Then the Blessed One said to the venerable Udāyī – ‘‘Why, Udāyī, do you gather the sitting cloth all around you, like an old rice-sack?’’ ‘‘Indeed, venerable sir, the Blessed One has allowed a very small sitting cloth for the monks.’’ Then the Blessed One, on account of this incident, on account of this matter, gave a Dhamma talk and addressed the monks – ‘‘Monks, I allow a fringe of one span for the sitting cloth. And thus, monks, you should recite this training rule – 533.‘‘A sitting cloth, if a monk is having it made, should be made to measure. Here is the measure – in length, two spans, by the Sugata-span; in width, one and a half. A fringe of one span. For one who exceeds that, there is an offense of cutting and expiation.’’ 534. A sitting cloth is called one with a fringe. ‘‘If one is having it made’’ means whether one makes it oneself or has it made by another, it should be made to measure. Here is the measure – in length, two spans, by the Sugata-span; in width, one and a half. A fringe of one span.