________________
IV, 1, 3.
THE PAVARANA CEREMONY.
325
FOURTH KHANDHAKA.
(THE PAVARANA CEREMONY AT THE END OF THE RAINY SEASON, VASSA).
1.
I. At that time the blessed Buddha dwelt at Sâvatthi, in the Getavana, the garden of Anâthapindika. At that time a number of Bhikkhus, companions and friends of each other, entered upon Vassa in a certain district of the Kosala country. Now those Bhikkhus thought: 'What shall we do in order that we may keep Vassa well, in unity, and in concord, and without quarrel, and that we may not suffer from want of food?'
2. Then those Bhikkhus thought: 'If we do not speak to or converse with each other, if he who comes back first from the village, from his almspilgrimage, prepares seats, gets water for washing the feet, a foot-stool, and a towel1, cleans the slopbasin and gets it ready, and puts there (water to) drink and food,
3. 'And if he who comes back last from the village, from his alms-pilgrimage, eats, if there is any food left (from the dinner of the other Bhikkhus) and if he desires to do so; and if he does not desire (to eat), throws it away at a place free from grass, or pours it away into water in which no living things are; puts away the water for washing the feet, the foot-stool, and the towel1; cleans the slop-basin and
1 See the note on I, 6, 11.
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