Paṭhama-Ovāda Sutta — The First Instruction
[483] The Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels’ Feeding Ground. Then the Venerable Mahākassapa approached the Blessed One, paid homage, and sat to one side. When he was seated, the Blessed One said:
“Kassapa, you should instruct the bhikkhus; you should give them a discourse in the Dhamma. Either I will instruct the bhikkhus, or you may instruct them; either I will give them a Dhamma-talk, or you may.”
Mahākassapa reports decline of discipline
[484] Mahākassapa said: “Bhante, the bhikkhus nowadays are hard to admonish, possessing qualities that make them difficult to admonish—impatient, not respectful toward instruction. In this Dhamma-Vinaya, I have seen Bhadda, the pupil (saddhivihārika) of Ānanda, and Ābhijjika, the pupil of Anuruddha, speaking offensively to one another, saying:
‘Come, bhikkhu! Who can speak more? Who can speak better? Who can speak longer?’”
The Buddha summons the two monks
[485] The Blessed One summoned a bhikkhu:
“Come, bhikkhu. Call Bhadda, Ānanda’s pupil, and Ābhijjika, Anuruddha’s pupil. Tell them: ‘The Teacher summons you.’”
He answered “Yes, Bhante,” went to them, and conveyed the message. They replied, “Yes, venerable sir,” went to the Blessed One, paid homage, and sat to one side.
The Buddha questions them
[486] The Blessed One asked:
“Bhikkhus, is it true that you spoke offensively to one another, saying: ‘Come, bhikkhu! Who can speak more? Who can speak better? Who can speak longer?’”
They replied: “Yes, Bhante, it is true.”
The Buddha said:
“Bhikkhus, do you understand the Dhamma I have taught so thoroughly that you can behave like this—speaking offensively, challenging one another in such a way?”
They answered: “No, Bhante.”
The Buddha’s rebuke
The Blessed One said:
“If you do not understand the Dhamma I have taught, then what do you know, what do you see, that you have gone forth in this well-proclaimed Dhamma-Vinaya, and yet speak offensively, saying:
‘Come, bhikkhu! Who can speak more, who can speak better, who can speak longer?’”
The monks confess their fault
[487] Then those bhikkhus bowed down with their heads at the Blessed One’s feet and said:
“Bhante, we are overcome by a fault— by foolishness, by delusion, by lack of wisdom— that we, having gone forth in the well-proclaimed Dhamma-Vinaya, have spoken offensively to one another with such words.
May the Blessed One accept our fault as a fault, so that we may restrain ourselves in the future.”
The Buddha accepts their acknowledgement
[488] The Blessed One said:
“Very well, bhikkhus. A fault has overcome you— born of foolishness, delusion, lack of wisdom— that you behaved in such a way.
But now that you have seen the fault as a fault and have acted to make amends in accordance with the Dhamma, we accept your confession.
For in the discipline of the Noble Ones, when one sees a fault as a fault, makes amends according to the Dhamma, and undertakes restraint in the future— this is growth in the Ariyan Vinaya.”
End of the First Ovāda Sutta.
Short Pāli Glossary (concise)
Ovāda — instruction, admonition saddhivihārika — a junior monk living under a teacher; pupil Dhamma-Vinaya — “Teaching and Discipline”; the Buddha’s dispensation suta / sutta-vācā — spoken words; here “verbal challenge/boasting” aññamañña-vītikkama — mutual offense, crossing the line āpatti / dosa — fault, transgression paṭikaroti — to make amends saṃvara — restraint, guarding of conduct ariyavinaya — discipline/practice of the Noble Ones