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[Nishīthasūtra 14. A monk who, thinking, "I have not received a new vessel," applies a coating of lodhra, either little or much, or of any color, to the vessel once or repeatedly, or approves of the one who applies the coating.
15. A monk who, thinking, "I have not received a new vessel," applies a coating of lodhra, of any color, that has been kept overnight, to the vessel once or repeatedly, or approves of the one who applies the coating.
16. A monk who, thinking, "I have received a vessel that has a foul odor," washes the vessel once or repeatedly with a little or much cold water that is not fit for drinking, or with hot water that is not fit for drinking, or approves of the one who washes it.
17. A monk who, thinking, "I have received a vessel that has a foul odor," washes the vessel once or repeatedly with cold water that is not fit for drinking, or with hot water that is not fit for drinking, that has been kept overnight, or approves of the one who washes it.
18. A monk who, thinking, "I have received a vessel that has a foul odor," applies a coating of lodhra, either little or much, or of any color, to the vessel once or repeatedly, or approves of the one who applies the coating.
19. A monk who, thinking, "I have received a vessel that has a foul odor," applies a coating of lodhra, of any color, that has been kept overnight, to the vessel once or repeatedly, or approves of the one who applies the coating. (He incurs the minor Chaturmasika prāyaścitta.)
Discussion-When a monk is searching for a vessel, he should take one that does not require any kind of processing. Even if, while searching, he finds a very old vessel or a vessel with an unpleasant odor, he should not be inclined to wash it or make it fragrant.
Here, in the first and third sūtras, the prāyaścitta is stated for washing with a little or much water, or for making fragrant with a paste, etc. After that, in the second and fourth sūtras, the prāyaścitta is stated for washing with water that has been kept for many days, or for making fragrant with a paste, etc.
The meaning is that if it is not at all unfavorable for restraint or health, then one should not wash or make fragrant with a little or much water, or with a paste, etc. But if it is necessary to wash, then one should not wash for many days, and one should not keep the substances used for washing and making fragrant in the vessel overnight.
The commentator has said that if the vessel is affected by a poisonous substance or a mantra, or if it has the smell of alcohol, etc., then, as an exception, it can be purified by keeping a paste, etc., or water in it for many days. Or sometimes it can be purified with alkaline substances.
These sūtras state the prāyaścitta for washing, etc., without reason, and for washing, etc., with stale substances kept overnight when there is a reason. There are a total of eight sūtras here - four for old vessels and four for vessels with a foul odor.