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on this occasion, on this matter, gave a Dhamma talk and addressed the bhikkhus: "Therefore, bhikkhus, let the Saṅgha appoint Dabba the Mallian's son as the arranger of lodgings and the distributor of meals. And thus, bhikkhus, he should be appointed. First, Dabba the Mallian's son should be asked. Having asked, a competent and able bhikkhu should inform the Saṅgha: "May the Saṅgha, Venerable Sirs, listen to me. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha should appoint the venerable Dabba the Mallian's son as the arranger of lodgings and the distributor of meals. This is the motion. "May the Saṅgha, Venerable Sirs, listen to me. The Saṅgha appoints the venerable Dabba the Mallian's son as the arranger of lodgings and the distributor of meals. To whomever of the venerable ones the appointment of the venerable Dabba the Mallian's son as the arranger of lodgings and the distributor of meals is agreeable, let him be silent; to whomever it is not agreeable, let him speak. "The venerable Dabba the Mallian's son has been appointed by the Saṅgha as the arranger of lodgings and the distributor of meals. It is agreeable to the Saṅgha, therefore it is silent. Thus do I hold this." And the venerable Dabba the Mallian's son, being appointed, arranged lodgings together for bhikkhus of similar interests. Those bhikkhus who were Suttanta reciters, for them he arranged lodgings together, so that they might recite Suttantas to one another. Those bhikkhus who were Vinaya holders, for them he arranged lodgings together, so that they might discuss Vinaya with one another. Those bhikkhus who were Dhamma speakers, for them he arranged lodgings together, so that they might converse on Dhamma with one another. Those bhikkhus who were meditators, for them he arranged lodgings together, so that they might not disturb one another. Those bhikkhus who were given to worldly talk, who were much concerned with bodily comfort, they dwelt... And for them too, he arranged a lodging together, saying: "Venerables, you will stay here with pleasure." And those bhikkhus who came at an improper time, for them too, having entered the fire element, he arranged a lodging with that very light. Moreover, some bhikkhus intentionally came at an improper time, saying: "We shall see the psychic power of Venerable Dabba the Mallaputta." They approached Venerable Dabba the Mallaputta and spoke thus: "Friend Dabba, please arrange a lodging for us." Venerable Dabba the Mallaputta spoke thus: "Where do the Venerables wish? Where shall I arrange it?" They intentionally indicated distant places: "Friend Dabba, arrange a lodging for us on Gijjhakūṭa mountain. Friend, arrange a lodging for us at Corapapāta. Friend, arrange a lodging for us on the Black Rock near Isigili. Friend, arrange a lodging for us in the Sattapaṇṇi Cave near Vebhāra. Friend, arrange a lodging for us in the Sappasoṇḍika Cave in Sītavana. Friend, arrange a lodging for us in Gotamaka Cave. Friend, arrange a lodging for us in Tinduka Cave. Friend, arrange a lodging for us in Tapoda Cave. Friend, arrange a lodging for us in Tapoda Park. Friend, arrange a lodging for us in Jīvaka's Mango Grove. Friend, arrange a lodging for us in the Deer Park at Maddakucchi." For them, Venerable Dabba the Mallaputta, having entered the fire element, went ahead, with his finger blazing. And they, by that light, followed behind Venerable Dabba the Mallaputta. For them, Venerable Dabba the Mallaputta arranged the lodging thus: "Here is a couch, here is a chair, here is a cushion, here is a pillow, here is a toilet, here is a urinal, here is drinking water, and..." this is for use, this is a walking stick, this is the Sangha's agreement on rules, at this time one should enter, at this time one should depart. Having thus assigned lodgings to them, Venerable Dabba the Mallian returns to Veḷuvana. 192. Now at that time, the Mettiyabhūmajaka bhikkhus were new and had little merit. The Sangha's inferior lodgings fell to them, and inferior meals. Now at that time, people in Rājagaha wished to offer special almsfood to the elder bhikkhus— ghee, oil, and extra portions. But to the Mettiyabhūmajaka bhikkhus they gave ordinary food— coarse rice gruel with a second helping of sour gruel, just as it was cooked. After the meal, having returned from their almsround, they asked the elder bhikkhus, "Friends, what was there at your meal? What was there at yours?" Some elders said, "Friends, we had ghee, we had oil, we had extra portions." But the Mettiyabhūmajaka bhikkhus said, "Friends, we had nothing— ordinary coarse rice gruel with a second helping of sour gruel, just as it was cooked." Now at that time, a householder named Kalyāṇabhattika gave a four-part meal to the Sangha, a regular meal. At the meal, he attended with his children and wife, serving— some he asked with rice, some he asked with curry, some he asked with oil, some he asked with extra portions. Now at that time, the meal of the householder Kalyāṇabhattika was assigned for the next day to the Mettiyabhūmajaka bhikkhus. Then the householder Kalyāṇabhattika went to the monastery for some reason. He approached where Venerable Dabba the Mallian was, and having approached and saluted Venerable Dabba the Mallian, he stood to one side. He sat down. To Kalyāṇabhattika the householder, who was seated to one side, the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened with a talk on Dhamma. Then Kalyāṇabhattika the householder, having been instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta with a talk on Dhamma, said this to the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta: "For whom, venerable sir, is the meal appointed at our house tomorrow?" "For the Mettiyabhūmajaka monks, householder, is the meal appointed at your house tomorrow." Then Kalyāṇabhattika the householder was displeased. "How can it be that wicked monks will eat at our house?" Having gone home, he ordered his maid: "Those who come tomorrow for the meal, set up seats in the storeroom and serve them with gruel of broken rice and a second helping of sour gruel." "Yes, master," that maid replied to Kalyāṇabhattika the householder. Then the Mettiyabhūmajaka monks thought: "Yesterday, friends, a meal was appointed for us at Kalyāṇabhattika the householder's; tomorrow, Kalyāṇabhattika the householder, with his children and wife, will attend upon us and serve us; some will ask for rice, some will ask for curry, some will ask for oil, some will ask for extra portions." With that very joy, they did not sleep well that night. Then the Mettiyabhūmajaka monks, having dressed in the morning, and taking their bowls and robes, went to Kalyāṇabhattika the householder's dwelling. That maid saw the Mettiyabhūmajaka monks approaching from afar; having seen them, she set up seats in the storeroom and said to the Mettiyabhūmajaka monks: "Please sit down, venerable sirs." Then it occurred to the Mettiyabhūmajaka monks: "Surely the meal will not yet be ready, since we are being made to sit in the storeroom." Then that maidservant approached with gruel and a second dish of sour gruel, saying, "Eat, sirs." "Indeed, sister, we are regular alms-eaters." "I know, sirs, that you are regular alms-eaters. But I was ordered yesterday by the householder – ‘Whoever comes tomorrow for alms, set up a seat in the storeroom and serve them with gruel and a second dish of sour gruel.’ Eat, sirs." Then the monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka (thought): "Indeed, friends, yesterday the householder, a good alms-giver, went to the monastery to Dabba the Mallaputta. Without a doubt, we have been alienated from the householder by Dabba the Mallaputta." Due to that very displeasure, they did not eat to their satisfaction. Then the monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka, after their meal, having returned from their alms-round, went to the monastery, put away their bowls and robes, and sat down in the outer storeroom of the monastery, cross-legged on their outer robes, silent, dismayed, with drooping shoulders, downcast, brooding, and without a ready answer. Then the bhikkhunī Mettiyā approached where the monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka were, and having approached, she said to the monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka: "I bow to you, sirs." When this was said, the monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka did not speak. A second time... a third time the bhikkhunī Mettiyā said to the monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka: "I bow to you, sirs." A third time the monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka did not speak. "What have I offended you with, sirs? Why do you not speak to me, sirs?" "Because, sister, you look on while we are being harassed by Dabba the Mallaputta." "What can I do, sirs?" "If, sister, you wished, today itself the Blessed One would expel the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta." "What can I do, sirs? What is it possible for me to do?" "Come, sister, approach where the Blessed One is, and having approached, say to the Blessed One thus: ‘This, venerable sir, is not fitting, not proper, that this direction, venerable sir, which was fearless, free from trouble, free from danger, that this direction is now fearful, troubled, dangerous; where it was windless, there is wind; the water, I think, is on fire; I have been defiled by the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta.’” “Yes, venerable sir,” Mettiyā the bhikkhunī replied to the Mettiyabhūmajakas bhikkhus, and then she approached the Blessed One. Having approached, she bowed to the Blessed One and stood to one side. Standing to one side, Mettiyā the bhikkhunī said to the Blessed One: “This, venerable sir, is not fitting, not proper, that this direction, venerable sir, which was fearless, free from trouble, free from danger, that this direction is now fearful, troubled, dangerous; where it was windless, there is wind; the water, I think, is on fire; I have been defiled by the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta.” 193. Then the Blessed One, on account of this incident, on account of this matter,