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VIII,6,2. REGULATIONS AS TO DUTIES OF BHIKKHUS. 293
No, friends, we have not.' Have you, Sirs, got water for washing ?' No, friends, we have not.' Have you, Sirs, got fire ?' No, friends, we have not.'
Have you, Sirs, got sticks and tinder for producing fire ?'
No, friends, we have not.'
With what (constellation is the moon now in) conjunction?'
•That, friends, we do not know.' . Which direction is this ?' •That, friends, we do not know.' [On hearing these answers]', the thieves said, These are thieves. These men are no Bhikkhus. And they beat them, and went away.
The Bhikkhus told this matter to the Bhikkhus. The Bhikkhus told it to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on that occasion and in that connection, after delivering a religious discourse, said to the Bhikkhus:
“Therefore, O Bhikkhus, do I establish a rule of conduct for Bhikkhus dwelling in the woods, according to which they are to behave themselves therein.
2. ‘A Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, who is dwelling in the woods, should rise betimes, place his bowl in the bag?, hang it over his shoulder, arrange his upper robe over his back (over both shoulders), get on
1 They are all repeated in the text.
Thavika. This is possibly one of the bags referred to in the permission granted by Mahâvagga VIII, 20, but it was only to be used when the bowl had to be carried a long distance, and not when passing through a village. (See the beginning of the next section.)
• Kivaram khandhe katva: either in contra distinction to
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