[101] Now at that time five diseases were prevalent among the Magadhans: leprosy, boils, eczema, consumption, and epilepsy. People afflicted with the five diseases approached Jīvaka Komārabhacca and said: "It would be good, teacher, if you would treat us."
"Good sirs, I am very busy, with much work to be done; I must attend upon King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, and upon the women of the royal household, and upon the Saṅgha with the Buddha at its head. I am not able to treat you."
"Let all our property be yours, teacher, and we will be your slaves. It would be good, teacher, if you would treat us."
"Good sirs, I am very busy, with much work to be done; I must attend upon King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, and upon the women of the royal household, and upon the Saṅgha with the Buddha at its head. I am not able to treat you."
Then it occurred to those people: "These ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, are of pleasant habits and pleasant conduct; having eaten fine meals, they sleep in beds sheltered from the wind. What if we were to go forth among the ascetics, sons of the Sakyan? There the bhikkhus will nurse us, and Jīvaka Komārabhacca will treat us." Then those people approached the bhikkhus and asked for the going forth. The bhikkhus gave them the going forth and the full ordination; and the bhikkhus nursed them, and Jīvaka Komārabhacca treated them.
Now at that time the bhikkhus, nursing many sick bhikkhus, dwelt abounding in asking and abounding in hinting: "Give food for the sick; give food for those who nurse the sick; give medicine for the sick." And Jīvaka Komārabhacca too, treating many sick bhikkhus, neglected a certain duty to the king.
Then a certain man, afflicted with the five diseases, approached Jīvaka Komārabhacca and said this: "It would be good, teacher, if you would treat me."
"Good sir, I am very busy, with much work to be done; I must attend upon King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, and upon the women of the royal household, and upon the Saṅgha with the Buddha at its head. I am not able to treat you."
"Let all my property be yours, teacher, and I will be your slave. It would be good, teacher, if you would treat me."
"Good sir, I am very busy, with much work to be done; I must attend upon King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, and upon the women of the royal household, and upon the Saṅgha with the Buddha at its head. I am not able to treat you."
Then it occurred to that man: "These ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, are of pleasant habits and pleasant conduct; having eaten fine meals, they sleep in beds sheltered from the wind. What if I were to go forth among the ascetics, sons of the Sakyan? There the bhikkhus will nurse me, and Jīvaka Komārabhacca will treat me; and when I am cured, I shall return to the lay life." Then that man approached the bhikkhus and asked for the going forth. The bhikkhus gave him the going forth and the full ordination; and the bhikkhus nursed him, and Jīvaka Komārabhacca treated him. When he was cured, he returned to the lay life.
Jīvaka Komārabhacca saw that man returned to the lay life, and having seen him, he said this to that man: "Did you not, sir, go forth among the bhikkhus?"
"Yes, teacher."
"But why, sir, did you act in such a way?"
Then that man told this matter to Jīvaka Komārabhacca. Jīvaka Komārabhacca criticized, complained, and spread it about: "How can the venerable ones give the going forth to one afflicted with the five diseases?"
Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Jīvaka Komārabhacca said this to the Blessed One: "It would be good, venerable sir, if the masters would not give the going forth to one afflicted with the five diseases."
Then the Blessed One instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened Jīvaka Komārabhacca with a talk on the Dhamma. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him with his right side toward him, and departed.
Then the Blessed One, having given a talk on the Dhamma in connection with this origin, in connection with this occasion, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, one afflicted with the five diseases should not be given the going forth. Whoever should give it, there is an offence of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.