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ordained among the bhikkhus?” “Yes, master.” “Why, good man, did you do such a thing?” Then that man told Jīvaka Komārabhacca the matter. Jīvaka Komārabhacca complained, grumbled, criticized: “How can the venerable ones ordain someone afflicted with five diseases?” Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca approached the Blessed One, and having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Jīvaka Komārabhacca said to the Blessed One: “It would be good, venerable sir, if the venerable ones would not ordain someone afflicted with five diseases.” Then the Blessed One instructed, encouraged, and gladdened Jīvaka Komārabhacca with a Dhamma talk. and gladdened him. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, having been instructed, incited, encouraged, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, rose from his seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and departed. Then the Blessed One, on account of this incident, on account of this matter, having given a Dhamma talk, addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, one afflicted with five diseases should not be ordained. Whoever ordains him, there is an offense of wrong-doing.” The chapter on the five diseases is finished. 27. The chapter on royal soldiers 90. Now at that time, the border region of King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha was rebellious. Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha commanded his generals and ministers: “Go, sirs, pacify the border region.” “Yes, Your Majesty,” the generals and ministers replied to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha. Then it occurred to certain well-known warriors: “When we, who delight in war, go forth, we commit evil, and we accumulate much demerit. By what means could we abstain from evil and do good?” Then it occurred to those warriors: “These Sakyan ascetics are righteous in conduct, even in conduct, celibate, truthful, virtuous, and of good character. If we were to go forth among the Sakyan ascetics, then we would abstain from evil and do good.” Then those warriors approached the bhikkhus and requested ordination. The bhikkhus ordained them and gave them the higher ordination. The generals and ministers asked the royal soldiers: “Sirs, why are such-and-such warriors not seen?” “Such-and-such warriors, sirs, have gone forth among the bhikkhus.” The generals and ministers complained, grumbled, and criticized: “How can these Sakyan ascetics ordain royal soldiers?” The generals and ministers re- reported this matter to Seniya Bimbisāra, the Magadhan king. Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha asked the royal ministers: "Whoever, sirs, ordains a royal servant, what does he incur?" "The preceptor's head, lord, should be cut off; the tongue of the one who advises should be pulled out; half the ribs of the assembly should be broken." Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha said to the Blessed One: "There are, venerable sir, kings who are faithless, displeased. They might harass the bhikkhus for a small matter. It would be good, venerable sir, if the venerable ones would not ordain a royal servant." Then the Blessed One instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha with a Dhamma talk. Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, having been instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, rose from his seat, bowed to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and departed. Then the Blessed One, on account of this incident, on account of this matter, having given a Dhamma talk, addressed the bhikkhus: "A royal servant, bhikkhus, should not be ordained. Whoever ordains one, there is an offense of wrong-doing." The story of the royal servant is finished. 28. The story of the bandit Aṅgulimāla 91. Now at that time, the bandit Aṅgulimāla had been ordained among the bhikkhus. People, seeing him, were disturbed, were terrified, fled, went by another way, turned their faces away by another way, and even closed their doors. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can these Sakyan recluses ordain a notorious bandit?" The bhikkhus heard those people complaining, grumbling, and criticizing. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. …pe… Monks, a flag-bound thief should not be ordained. Whoever ordains him, there is an offense of wrong-doing. The story of the thief Aṅgulimāla is finished. 29. The story of the prison-breaking thief 92. Now at that time it had been allowed by King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha – ‘‘Those who go forth among the Sakyan ascetics, they may not be harmed in any way; the Dhamma is well-proclaimed, let them lead the holy life for the complete ending of suffering.’’ Now at that time a certain man, having committed a theft, was bound in prison. He, having broken out of prison, having fled, had gone forth among the bhikkhus. People, having seen him, said thus – ‘‘This is that prison-breaking thief. Come, let us take him.’’ Some said thus – ‘‘Sirs, do not speak thus. It has been allowed by King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha – ‘‘Those who go forth among the Sakyan ascetics, they may not be harmed in any way; the Dhamma is well-proclaimed, let them lead the holy life for the complete ending of suffering.’’ People complained, grumbled, and criticized – ‘‘These Sakyan ascetics are fearless, protected, they may not be harmed in any way. How indeed can the Sakyan ascetics ordain a prison-breaking thief?’’ They reported this matter to the Blessed One. Monks, a prison-breaking thief should not be ordained. Whoever ordains him, there is an offense of wrong-doing. The story of the prison-breaking thief is finished. 30. The story of the marked thief 93. Now at that time a certain man, having committed a theft, having fled, had gone forth among the bhikkhus. And he was marked in the king’s inner palace – wherever he is seen, there he is to be killed. People, having seen him, said thus – ‘‘This is that marked thief. Come, let us kill him.’’ Some said thus – ‘‘Sirs, do not speak thus. It has been allowed by King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha – ‘‘Those who go forth among the Sakyan ascetics, they may not be harmed in any way, the Dhamma is well-proclaimed, let them lead the holy life this is for the complete ending of suffering.’ People complained, grumbled, and criticized – ‘These Sakyan ascetics are fearless, they cannot be touched. How can these Sakyan ascetics ordain a branded thief?’ They reported this matter to the Blessed One. ‘Monks, a branded thief should not be ordained. Whoever ordains one incurs an offense of wrong-doing.’ The story of the branded thief is concluded. 31. The Story of the Flogged Man 94. Now at that time a certain man, who had been flogged and punished, had gone forth among the bhikkhus. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – ‘How can these Sakyan ascetics ordain a man who has been flogged and punished?’ They reported this matter to the Blessed One. ‘Monks, a man who has been flogged and punished should not be ordained. Whoever ordains one incurs an offense of wrong-doing.’ The story of the flogged man is concluded. 32. The Story of the Branded Man 95. Now at that time a certain man, who had been branded and punished, had gone forth among the bhikkhus. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – ‘How can these Sakyan ascetics ordain a man who has been branded and punished?’ They reported this matter to the Blessed One. ‘Monks, a man who has been branded and punished should not be ordained. Whoever ordains one incurs an offense of wrong-doing.’ The story of the branded man is concluded. 33. The Story of the Debtor 96. Now at that time a certain debtor had fled and gone forth among the bhikkhus. His creditors saw him and said – ‘This is our debtor. Come, let’s take him!’ Some of them said – ‘Sirs, do not say that. It has been permitted by King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha – ‘Those who go forth among the Sakyan ascetics, they cannot be touched; the Dhamma is well-proclaimed, let them lead the holy life for the complete ending of suffering.’ People complained, grumbled, and criticized "These Sakyan ascetics are fearless. Nothing can be done to them. How indeed can Sakyan ascetics ordain a debtor?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a debtor should not be ordained. Whoever ordains one incurs an offense of wrong-doing." The story of the debtor is ended. 34. The Story of the Slave 97. Now at that time a certain slave, having run away, had gone forth among the bhikkhus. His masters, seeing him, said thus: "This is our slave. Come, let's take him." Some said thus: "Sirs, do not speak thus. It has been permitted by King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha: 'Those who go forth among the Sakyan ascetics, nothing can be done to them. The Dhamma is well-proclaimed. Let them lead the holy life for the complete ending of suffering.'" People complained, grumbled, and criticized: "These Sakyan ascetics are fearless. Nothing can be done to them. How indeed can Sakyan ascetics ordain a slave?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a slave should not be ordained. Whoever ordains one incurs an offense of wrong-doing." The story of the slave is ended. 35. The Story of the Artisan's Apprentice 98. Now at that time a certain artisan's apprentice, having quarrelled with his parents, had gone to the monastery and gone forth among the bhikkhus. Then the parents of that artisan's apprentice, searching for that apprentice, went to the monastery and asked the bhikkhus: "Sirs, have you seen such a boy?" The bhikkhus, though knowing, said, "We do not know," and though seeing, said, "We do not see." Then the parents of that artisan's apprentice, searching for that apprentice, saw him gone forth among the bhikkhus, and complained, grumbled, and criticized: "These Sakyan ascetics are shameless, immoral, liars. Knowing, they said,