[142] Now at that time those who had been ordained (upasampannā) were seen to have leprosy, boils, eczema, consumption, and epilepsy. They informed the Blessed One of this matter. "Bhikkhus, I allow one who is giving ordination (upasampadā) to ask about the thirteen obstructing conditions (antarāyikā dhammā). And thus, bhikkhus, should he be asked: 'Do you have any such diseases as these: leprosy, boils, eczema, consumption, epilepsy? Are you a human being? Are you a man? Are you a free man? Are you without debt? Are you not in the king's service? Have you your mother's and father's consent? Are you a full twenty years of age? Are your bowl and robes complete? What is your name? What is the name of your preceptor (upajjhāya)?'"
Now at that time the bhikkhus asked candidates for ordination (upasampadāpekkha) who had not been instructed about the obstructing conditions. The candidates were embarrassed and abashed; they could not answer. They informed the Blessed One of this matter. "I allow, bhikkhus, that one first instruct him and afterwards ask about the obstructing conditions."
They instructed him right there in the midst of the Saṅgha. The candidates were just as before embarrassed and abashed; they could not answer. They informed the Blessed One of this matter. "I allow, bhikkhus, having instructed him to one side, to ask about the obstructing conditions in the midst of the Saṅgha. And thus, bhikkhus, should he be instructed: first he should be made to take a preceptor. Having had him take a preceptor, the bowl and robes should be pointed out to him: 'This is your bowl, this the outer robe (saṅghāṭi), this the upper robe (uttarāsaṅga), this the lower robe (antaravāsaka); go and stand in such-and-such a place.'"
Foolish, incompetent ones instructed; the candidates, being badly instructed, were embarrassed and abashed; they could not answer. They informed the Blessed One of this matter. "Bhikkhus, he should not be instructed by a foolish, incompetent one; whoever should so instruct commits an offence of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa). I allow, bhikkhus, that he be instructed by a competent, capable bhikkhu."
Those who had not been agreed upon instructed. They informed the Blessed One of this matter. "Bhikkhus, he should not be instructed by one who has not been agreed upon (sammata); whoever should so instruct commits an offence of wrong-doing. I allow, bhikkhus, that he be instructed by one who has been agreed upon. And thus, bhikkhus, should he be agreed upon: one may agree upon oneself, or one may be agreed upon by another. And how may one agree upon oneself? The Saṅgha should be informed by a competent, capable bhikkhu: 'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. So-and-so is the candidate for ordination of the venerable so-and-so. If it is the right time for the Saṅgha, I would instruct so-and-so.' Thus one may agree upon oneself. And how may another be agreed upon by another? The Saṅgha should be informed by a competent, capable bhikkhu: 'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. So-and-so is the candidate for ordination of the venerable so-and-so. If it is the right time for the Saṅgha, so-and-so would instruct so-and-so.' Thus another may be agreed upon by another.
The candidate for ordination should be approached by that bhikkhu who has been agreed upon, and should be spoken to thus: 'Listen, so-and-so. This is for you the time for truth, the time for fact. When they ask you in the midst of the Saṅgha about what has occurred, what is should be declared "It is," what is not should be declared "It is not." Do not be embarrassed; do not be abashed. They will ask you thus: Do you have any such diseases as these: leprosy, boils, eczema, consumption, epilepsy? Are you a human being? Are you a man? Are you a free man? Are you without debt? Are you not in the king's service? Have you your mother's and father's consent? Are you a full twenty years of age? Are your bowl and robes complete? What is your name? What is the name of your preceptor?'
They come together. They should not come together. The instructor, having come first, should inform the Saṅgha: 'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. So-and-so is the candidate for ordination of the venerable so-and-so. He has been instructed by me. If it is the right time for the Saṅgha, let so-and-so come.' He should be told: 'Come.'
Having had him arrange his upper robe over one shoulder, pay homage at the feet of the bhikkhus, sit down squatting on his heels, and raise his joined palms, he should be made to request ordination: 'Venerable sirs, I request ordination of the Saṅgha. Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha raise me up, out of compassion. For the second time, venerable sirs, I request ordination of the Saṅgha. Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha raise me up, out of compassion. For the third time, venerable sirs, I request ordination of the Saṅgha. Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha raise me up, out of compassion.'
The Saṅgha should be informed by a competent, capable bhikkhu: 'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. This so-and-so is the candidate for ordination of the venerable so-and-so. If it is the right time for the Saṅgha, I would ask so-and-so about the obstructing conditions.'
'Listen, so-and-so. This is for you the time for truth, the time for fact. I ask you about what has occurred. What is should be declared "It is"; what is not should be declared "It is not." Do you have any such diseases as these: leprosy, boils, eczema, consumption, epilepsy? Are you a human being? Are you a man? Are you a free man? Are you without debt? Are you not in the king's service? Have you your mother's and father's consent? Are you a full twenty years of age? Are your bowl and robes complete? What is your name? What is the name of your preceptor?'
The Saṅgha should be informed by a competent, capable bhikkhu: 'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. This so-and-so is the candidate for ordination of the venerable so-and-so, pure with regard to the obstructing conditions. His bowl and robes are complete. So-and-so requests ordination of the Saṅgha with so-and-so as preceptor. If it is the right time for the Saṅgha, let the Saṅgha ordain so-and-so with so-and-so as preceptor. This is the motion (ñatti).
'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. This so-and-so is the candidate for ordination of the venerable so-and-so, pure with regard to the obstructing conditions. His bowl and robes are complete. So-and-so requests ordination of the Saṅgha with so-and-so as preceptor. The Saṅgha ordains so-and-so with so-and-so as preceptor. Whichever venerable one approves of the ordination of so-and-so with so-and-so as preceptor, let him be silent; whichever one does not approve, let him speak.
'For the second time I speak of this matter. Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. This so-and-so is the candidate for ordination of the venerable so-and-so, pure with regard to the obstructing conditions. His bowl and robes are complete. So-and-so requests ordination of the Saṅgha with so-and-so as preceptor. The Saṅgha ordains so-and-so with so-and-so as preceptor. Whichever venerable one approves of the ordination of so-and-so with so-and-so as preceptor, let him be silent; whichever one does not approve, let him speak.
'For the third time I speak of this matter. Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. This so-and-so is the candidate for ordination of the venerable so-and-so, pure with regard to the obstructing conditions. His bowl and robes are complete. So-and-so requests ordination of the Saṅgha with so-and-so as preceptor. The Saṅgha ordains so-and-so with so-and-so as preceptor. Whichever venerable one approves of the ordination of so-and-so with so-and-so as preceptor, let him be silent; whichever one does not approve, let him speak.
'So-and-so has been ordained by the Saṅgha with so-and-so as preceptor. It is approved by the Saṅgha; therefore it is silent. Thus do I hold it.'
The Act of Ordination (upasampadākamma) is concluded.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.