venerable Dabba the Mallian had thus appointed unto them their lodging-place, he would return back again to the Bamboo Grove.
5. Now at that time the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhummagaka[1] l had been but recently received into theSamgha, and were wanting in merit, and such among the lodging-places appertaining to the Samgha as were inferior fell to their lot, and the inferior rations[2].
Now at that time the people of Râgagaha were desirous of presenting to the Thera Bhikkhus a wishing-gift[3], to wit, ghee and oil and dainty bits 4 ; while to the Bhikkhus who were followers of Mettiya and Bhumma^aka they used to give an ordinary gift according to their ability, to wit, scraps of food and sour gruel with it.
passage is clear from the closing words of VIII, 1, 2, where most of these phrases recur. In the text, for the last word nikkhipitabbam read nikkhamitabbam, as pointed out in the note at P. 363 of the edition of the text.
Uttaribhahgam. See the passages quoted in the note on Mahilvagga VI, 14, 3. These three things are also mentioned together at VIII, 4, 4.
These expressions recur at G&taka I, 228. The Samanta Pas£dika* says merely kana^akan ti sakuntaka-bhattaoi. Bilarigadutiyan ti kaHgika-dutiya/H.
- ↑ These were two of the six leaders of the notorious Khabbaggiya Bhikkhus.
- ↑ Compare the 22nd Nissaggiya.
- ↑ Abhisamkhârikam; that is, a gift by the giving of which the donor expressly wished that a particular result (as, for instance, that the donor should be reborn as a king or queen, or should enter the paths, or have opportunity to hear a Buddha preach) should be brought about by the normal effect of that good act in a future birth. There are not a few instances of such wishes, and of their fulfilment, recorded in various parts of the sacred literature.
