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he will make a circular piece, he will make a half-circular piece, he will make an open piece, he will make a re-open piece, he will make a neck-piece, he will make a leg-piece, he will make an arm-piece, it will be stitched, rough with the knife, suitable for recluses, an opponent and not desired. I allow, monks, a cut outer robe, a cut upper robe, a cut inner robe.” The allowance of cut robes is finished. 217. The Allowance of Three Robes 346. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Rājagaha as long as he wished, set out on a journey towards Vesālī. The Blessed One, while traveling on the road between Rājagaha and Vesālī, saw many monks burdened with robes, having made a bundle of robes on their heads, and a bundle of robes on their shoulders, and a bundle of robes on their waists, coming along. Seeing them, it occurred to the Blessed One: “These foolish men are too quickly devoted to an abundance of robes. What if I were to set a limit for the monks regarding robes, and establish a boundary?” Then the Blessed One, traveling by stages, arrived at Vesālī. There the Blessed One resided in Vesālī, at the Gotamaka Shrine. Now at that time, the Blessed One, during the cold winter nights, in the midst of the frost, at the time of snowfall, sat in the open air at night with one robe. The Blessed One was not cold. When the first watch of the night had passed, the Blessed One was cold. The Blessed One put on a second robe. The Blessed One was not cold. When the middle watch of the night had passed, the Blessed One was cold. The Blessed One put on a third robe. The Blessed One was not cold. When the last watch of the night had passed, when the dawn had broken, at the joyful face of the night, the Blessed One was cold. The Blessed One put on a fourth robe. The Blessed One was not cold. Then it occurred to the Blessed One: “Even those young men of good family who are sensitive to cold, afraid of cold, can manage with three robes in this Dhamma and Discipline. What if I were to set a limit for the monks regarding robes, and establish a boundary, and allow three robes?” Then the Blessed One, on account of this cause, on account of this matter, gave a Dhamma talk, He addressed the bhikkhus: "Here, bhikkhus, between Rājagaha and Vesālī, as I was on my way, I saw many bhikkhus burdened with robes, having made a bundle of robes on their heads, having made a bundle of robes on their shoulders, having made a bundle of robes on their waists, coming. Seeing them, it occurred to me: 'These foolish men are too easily attached to an abundance of robes. What if I were to set a limit for bhikkhus regarding robes, establish a boundary?'" "Here, bhikkhus, on cold winter nights, during the eight-day period of frost, I sat out in the open at night with one robe. I was not cold. When the first watch passed, I was cold. I put on a second robe. I was not cold. When the middle watch passed, I was cold. I put on a third robe. I was not cold. When the last watch passed, at dawn, with the joyful night, I was cold. I put on a fourth robe. I was not cold." "Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to me: 'Even those young men in this Dhamma and Discipline who are sensitive to cold, who are afraid of cold, they too can manage with three robes. What if I were to set a limit for bhikkhus regarding robes, establish a boundary, and allow three robes?'" "I allow, bhikkhus, three robes: a double outer robe, a single upper robe, and a single inner robe." The allowance of three robes is concluded. 218. The Story of Excess Robes Now at that time, the group of six bhikkhus, thinking that the Blessed One had allowed three robes, would enter the village with one set of three robes, stay in the monastery with another set of three robes, and go to bathe with yet another set of three robes. Those bhikkhus who were of few desires complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can the group of six bhikkhus wear excess robes?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on account of this incident, on account of this matter, having given a Dhamma talk, addressed the bhikkhus: "Monks, an extra robe should not be kept. Whoever keeps one, should be dealt with according to the Dhamma." Now at that time, an extra robe had arisen for Venerable Ānanda. And Venerable Ānanda wished to give that robe to Venerable Sāriputta. And Venerable Sāriputta was dwelling in Sāketa. Then it occurred to Venerable Ānanda: "The Blessed One has laid down a training rule: 'An extra robe should not be kept.' And this extra robe has arisen for me. And I wish to give this robe to Venerable Sāriputta. And Venerable Sāriputta is dwelling in Sāketa. How then should I proceed?" He reported this matter to the Blessed One. "For how long, Ānanda, will Sāriputta be coming?" "On the ninth day, Blessed One, or on the tenth." Then the Blessed One, on account of this incident, on account of this matter, having given a Dhamma talk, addressed the bhikkhus: "Monks, I allow you to keep an extra robe for a maximum of ten days." Now at that time, an extra robe had arisen for the bhikkhus. Then it occurred to the bhikkhus: "How then should we proceed with an extra robe?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, I allow you to determine an extra robe." Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Vesālī as long as he wished, set out on tour towards Bārāṇasī. Journeying by stages, he arrived at Bārāṇasī. There, the Blessed One was dwelling in Bārāṇasī, at Isipatana in the Deer Park. Now at that time, the inner robe of a certain bhikkhu was torn. Then it occurred to that bhikkhu: "The Blessed One has allowed the triple robe— a double outer robe, a single upper robe, a single inner robe. And this inner robe of mine is torn." "What if I were to sew a cross-bar? It will be double all around, single in the middle." Then that bhikkhu sewed a cross-bar. The Blessed One, wandering for lodgings, saw that bhikkhu sewing a cross-bar. Having seen him, he approached that bhikkhu. Having approached, he said to that bhikkhu: "What are you doing, bhikkhu?" "Lord, I am sewing a cross-bar." "Good, good, bhikkhu; good indeed, bhikkhu, that you have sewn a cross-bar." Then the Blessed One, on account of this incident, on account of this matter, gave a Dhamma talk and addressed the bhikkhus: "I allow, bhikkhus, for new, unwashed cloths, for those suitable for new, a double outer robe, a single upper robe, a single inner robe; for cloths taken from the season, a quadruple outer robe, a double upper robe, a double inner robe; for rag-robes, as much as needed; for those bought in the market, effort should be made. I allow, bhikkhus, a sewn cross-bar, a hem, a patch, for strengthening." The discourse on extra robes is finished. 219. The Story of Visakha 349. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Bārāṇasī as long as he wished, set out on tour towards Sāvatthī. Wandering by stages, he arrived at Sāvatthī. There, indeed, the Blessed One was staying in Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Then Visākhā, Migāra's mother, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, she sat down to one side. The Blessed One instructed, urged, inspired, and gladdened Visākhā, Migāra's mother, as she sat to one side, with a Dhamma talk. Then Visākhā, Migāra's mother, having been instructed, urged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, said to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One, venerable sir, accept a meal from me for tomorrow, together with the community of bhikkhus." The Blessed One accepted. with silence. Then Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, knowing the Blessed One’s acceptance, rose from her seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and departed. Now at that time, on the passing of that night, a great rain cloud rained over the four continents. Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Just as it rains in Jetavana, bhikkhus, so it rains in the four continents. Let your bodies be drenched, bhikkhus. This is the last great rain cloud over the four continents.” “Yes, venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One, and laying aside their robes, they drenched their bodies. Then Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, having prepared excellent hard and soft food, ordered a maidservant: “Go, my dear. Go to the monastery and announce the time: ‘It is time, venerable sirs, the meal is ready.’” “Yes, lady,” that maidservant replied to Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, and going to the monastery, she saw the bhikkhus, with robes laid aside, drenching their bodies. Seeing them, she thought, “There are no bhikkhus in the monastery, ascetics are drenching their bodies,” and she approached Visākhā, Migāra’s mother; having approached, she said to Visākhā, Migāra’s mother: “There are no bhikkhus in the monastery, lady, ascetics are drenching their bodies.” Then it occurred to Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, who was wise, skilled, and intelligent: “Surely, my dear, the bhikkhus are drenching their bodies with robes laid aside. That foolish girl thought, ‘There are no bhikkhus in the monastery, ascetics are drenching their bodies.’” Again she ordered the maidservant: “Go, my dear. Go to the monastery and announce the time: ‘It is time, venerable sirs, the meal is ready.’” Then those bhikkhus, having cooled their bodies, and being refreshed, took their robes and entered their respective dwellings. Then that maidservant, going to the monastery, and not seeing the bhikkhus, thought, “There are no bhikkhus in the monastery, the monastery is empty,” and she approached Visākhā, Migāra’s mother; having approached, she said to Visākhā, Migāra’s mother: “There are no bhikkhus, lady, "There are monks in the park, the park is empty." Then to Visakha, Migara's mother, who was wise, skilled, and intelligent, this thought occurred: "Surely, the venerable ones have cooled their bodies, made their bodies ready, taken their robes,