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that bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: "I, Venerable Sir, requested meat from Suppiya the lay follower." "Was it brought, bhikkhu?" "It was brought, Blessed One." "Did you consume it, bhikkhu?" "I consumed it, Blessed One." "Did you reflect, bhikkhu?" "I did not reflect, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, criticized him... "How can you, foolish man, consume meat without reflecting? Human flesh, foolish man, was consumed by you. This, foolish man, For the sake of inspiring faith in those without it... Having rebuked, having given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the bhikkhus – ‘‘Monks, there are people faithful and devoted, by whom even their own flesh has been given up. Monks, human flesh should not be eaten. Whoever eats it, incurs an offense of grave fault. And, monks, without reflection, flesh should not be eaten. Whoever eats it, incurs an offense of wrong-doing.’’ The discourse on the prohibition of human flesh is concluded. 169. The discourse on the prohibition of elephant flesh, etc. 281. Now at that time, the king's elephants were dying. People, during the famine, were eating elephant flesh, and gave elephant flesh to bhikkhus wandering for alms. The bhikkhus ate elephant flesh. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – ‘‘How can these Sakyan recluses eat elephant flesh? Elephants are royal property. If the king knew, he would not be pleased with them.’’ They reported this matter to the Blessed One. Monks, elephant flesh should not be eaten. Whoever eats it, incurs an offense of wrong-doing. Now at that time, the king's horses were dying. People, during the famine, were eating horse flesh, and gave horse flesh to bhikkhus wandering for alms. The bhikkhus ate horse flesh. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – ‘‘How can these Sakyan recluses eat horse flesh? Horses are royal property. If the king knew, he would not be pleased with them.’’ They reported this matter to the Blessed One. Monks, horse flesh should not be eaten. Whoever eats it, incurs an offense of wrong-doing. Now at that time, people, during the famine, were eating dog flesh, and gave dog flesh to bhikkhus wandering for alms. The bhikkhus ate dog flesh. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – ‘‘How can these Sakyan recluses eat dog flesh? they will eat it, a dog is disgusting, repulsive.” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, dog meat should not be eaten. Whoever eats it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, people in a famine were eating snake meat. They gave snake meat to monks going for alms. The monks ate snake meat. People complained, grumbled, criticized: “How can these Sakyan recluses eat snake meat? A snake is disgusting, repulsive.” Supassa, the Naga king, approached the Blessed One, and having approached, he bowed to the Blessed One and stood to one side. Standing to one side, Supassa, the Naga king, said this to the Blessed One: “There are, venerable sir, Nagas who are faithless, displeased. They might harm the monks even for a small matter. It would be good, venerable sir, if the venerable ones would not eat snake meat.” Then the Blessed One instructed Supassa, the Naga king, with a Dhamma talk… and having circumambulated, he departed. Then the Blessed One, on account of this cause, on account of this matter, having given a Dhamma talk, addressed the monks: “Monks, snake meat should not be eaten. Whoever eats it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, hunters, having killed a lion, were eating lion meat. They gave lion meat to monks going for alms. The monks, having eaten lion meat, dwelt in the forest. Lions, by the smell of lion meat, attacked the monks. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, lion meat should not be eaten. Whoever eats it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, hunters, having killed a tiger… having killed a leopard… having killed a bear… having killed a hyena, were eating hyena meat. They gave hyena meat to monks going for alms. The monks, having eaten hyena meat, They were dwelling in the forest. Jackals, by the scent of jackal flesh, attacked the bhikkhus. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, jackal flesh should not be consumed. Whoever consumes it, there is an offense of wrong-doing." The section on the prohibition of elephant flesh and so forth is finished. The Suppiya Recitation Chapter, the second, is finished. 170. Authorization of gruel and honey-balls 282. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Bārāṇasī as long as he wished, set out on a journey towards Andhakavinda, together with a large community of bhikkhus, twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus. At that time, people from the countryside, having loaded much salt, oil, rice, and edibles onto carts, followed behind the community of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha, thinking: "When we get our turn, we will offer a meal." And there were five hundred scavengers. Then the Blessed One, journeying by stages, arrived at Andhakavinda. Then it occurred to a certain brahmin, who had not obtained his turn: "Two months have passed for me, following the community of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha, thinking: 'When I get my turn, I will offer a meal.' But I do not get my turn, and I am alone, and much of my household affairs are being neglected. What if I were to look at the refectory; whatever is not in the refectory, I would prepare that." Then that brahmin, looking at the refectory, saw two things missing: gruel and honey-balls. Then that brahmin approached Venerable Ānanda, and having approached, he said to Venerable Ānanda: "Here, good Ānanda, it occurred to me, not obtaining my turn: 'Two months have passed for me, following the community of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha, thinking: When I get my turn, I will offer a meal.' But I do not get my turn, and I am alone, And much of my household work is neglected. What if I were to inspect the refectory? What is not in the refectory, that I would prepare. So I, Venerable Ānanda, inspecting the refectory, did not see two things— rice gruel and a lump of honey. If I, Venerable Ānanda, were to prepare rice gruel and a lump of honey, would Venerable Gotama accept it? Then, brahmin, we will ask the Blessed One. Then Venerable Ānanda reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then, Ānanda, let him prepare it. Then, brahmin, prepare it. Then that brahmin, when that night had passed, having prepared abundant rice gruel and a lump of honey, presented it to the Blessed One: May Venerable Gotama accept rice gruel and a lump of honey from me. Then, brahmin, give it to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus, feeling scruples, did not accept it. Accept it, bhikkhus, consume it. Then that brahmin, having satisfied and served with his own hands the assembly of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with abundant rice gruel and a lump of honey, sat down to one side, the Blessed One having washed his hands and put away his bowl. To that brahmin, seated to one side, the Blessed One said this: These ten are the benefits of rice gruel, brahmin. Which ten? Giving rice gruel, one gives long life, one gives beauty, one gives happiness, one gives strength, one gives ready wit. Rice gruel, when drunk, wards off hunger, quenches thirst, regulates the wind, cleanses the bladder, digests undigested food— these, brahmin, are the ten benefits of rice gruel. He who to the self-controlled, who live on others' gifts, at the proper time carefully gives rice gruel, he bestows ten qualities: long life and beauty and happiness and strength. Ready wit arises in him thereafter. He removes hunger and thirst and wind. He cleanses the bladder, digests what is eaten. This is medicine. Praised by the Exalted One. Therefore, gruel should certainly be given; Always by a person seeking happiness; Or desiring divine happiness; Or wishing for human prosperity. Then the Blessed One, having gladdened that brahmin with these verses, rose from his seat and departed. Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, on this matter, having given a discourse on Dhamma, addressed the bhikkhus: “I allow, bhikkhus, gruel and honey-balls.” The allowance of gruel and honey-balls is concluded. 171. The Story of the Young Devoted Minister 283. People heard that gruel and honey-balls had indeed been allowed by the Blessed One. They, early in the morning, prepared edible gruel and honey-balls. The bhikkhus, having eaten their fill of edible gruel and honey-balls early in the morning, did not eat heartily at the mealtime. Now at that time, a certain young devoted minister had invited the Sangha of bhikkhus, with the Buddha at its head, for the next day. Then it occurred to that young devoted minister: “What if I were to prepare twelve hundred and fifty meat dishes for twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus, offering one meat dish to each bhikkhu?” Then that young devoted minister, when that night had passed, having had exquisite hard and soft food prepared, and twelve hundred and fifty meat dishes, announced the time to the Blessed One: “It is time, Venerable Sir, the meal is ready.” Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, went to the dwelling of that young devoted minister, and having gone there, sat down on the seat prepared, together with the Sangha of bhikkhus. Then that young devoted minister served the bhikkhus at the mealtime. The bhikkhus said thus: “Give a little, friend; give a little, friend.” “Venerable Sirs, do not, thinking ‘this is a young devoted minister,’ accept only a little. Much For me, food and drink are prepared, and twelve and a half hundred bowls of meat. To each and every monk, I will offer one bowl of meat. Please accept, venerable sirs, as much as you wish. "Indeed, friend, it is not for this reason that we accept little by little, but we have already been sustained early with rice gruel and honey balls. Therefore, we accept little by little."