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VIII, 4, I.
Bhikkhus about to leave, according to which they should behave themselves.'
KULLAVAGGA.
4.
1. Now at that time the Bhikkhus did not give thanks in the place where a meal was served. People murmured, &c.; the Bhikkhus heard, &c.; the Blessed One on that occasion, &c.1 said to the Bhikkhus:
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, the giving of thanks.'
Then the Bhikkhus thought, 'By whom should the thanks be given?'
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, the elder Bhikkhu (present) to give thanks in the place where a meal is served.' Now at that time (the turn to provide) the Samgha with a meal had fallen to a certain company; and the venerable Sâriputta was the senior (Bhikkhu in that) Samgha. The Bhikkhus, thinking, 'The Blessed One has permitted the senior Bhikkhu to return thanks in the place where a meal is served,' went away, leaving the venerable Sâriputta alone. And the venerable Sâriputta gave thanks to those people, and then came away alone.
The Blessed One saw the venerable Sâriputta coming from the distance; and on seeing him, he said to him: 'Did the meal, then, Sâriputta, pass off well3?'
1 For the passages here implied, see I, 1, 2, 3.
2 Aññatarassa pûgassa. This sentence has already occurred at V, 5, 2.
On this use of iddho, compare ovâdo iddho in the Bhikkhunî-vibhanga, Pâkittiya LVI.
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