[231] Now at that time, in a certain residence (āvāsa), on the day of the Invitation (pavāraṇā) five bhikkhus were dwelling. Then it occurred to those bhikkhus: "It has been laid down by the Blessed One that the Invitation is to be performed by a Saṅgha; and we are five persons. How, then, should the Invitation be performed by us?" They informed the Blessed One of this matter. "Bhikkhus, I allow five to perform the Invitation as a Saṅgha."¹
Now at that time, in a certain residence, on the day of the Invitation four bhikkhus were dwelling. Then it occurred to those bhikkhus: "It has been allowed by the Blessed One for five to perform the Invitation as a Saṅgha; and we are four persons. How, then, should the Invitation be performed by us?" They informed the Blessed One of this matter. "Bhikkhus, I allow four to perform the Invitation to one another. And thus, bhikkhus, should the Invitation be performed. A competent, capable bhikkhu should inform those bhikkhus: 'Let the venerable ones hear me. Today is the Invitation. If it is the right time for the venerable ones, let us make the Invitation to one another.'
"The elder bhikkhu, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having sat down squatting, having raised his joined palms, should address those bhikkhus thus: 'Friends, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A second time, friends, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A third time, friends, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends.'
"The junior bhikkhu, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having sat down squatting, having raised his joined palms, should address those bhikkhus thus: 'Venerable sirs, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A second time, venerable sirs, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A third time, venerable sirs, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends.'"
Now at that time, in a certain residence, on the day of the Invitation three bhikkhus were dwelling. Then it occurred to those bhikkhus: "It has been allowed by the Blessed One for five to perform the Invitation as a Saṅgha, for four to perform the Invitation to one another; and we are three persons. How, then, should the Invitation be performed by us?" They informed the Blessed One of this matter. "Bhikkhus, I allow three to perform the Invitation to one another. And thus, bhikkhus, should the Invitation be performed. A competent, capable bhikkhu should inform those bhikkhus: 'Let the venerable ones hear me. Today is the Invitation. If it is the right time for the venerable ones, let us make the Invitation to one another.'
"The elder bhikkhu, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having sat down squatting, having raised his joined palms, should address those bhikkhus thus: 'Friends, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A second time, friends, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A third time, friends, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends.'
"The junior bhikkhu, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having sat down squatting, having raised his joined palms, should address those bhikkhus thus: 'Venerable sirs, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A second time, venerable sirs, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A third time, venerable sirs, I invite the venerable ones with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends.'"
Now at that time, in a certain residence, on the day of the Invitation two bhikkhus were dwelling. Then it occurred to those bhikkhus: "It has been allowed by the Blessed One for five to perform the Invitation as a Saṅgha, for four to perform the Invitation to one another, for three to perform the Invitation to one another; and we are two persons. How, then, should the Invitation be performed by us?" They informed the Blessed One of this matter. "Bhikkhus, I allow two to perform the Invitation to one another. And thus, bhikkhus, should the Invitation be performed.
"The elder bhikkhu, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having sat down squatting, having raised his joined palms, should address the junior bhikkhu thus: 'Friend, I invite the venerable one with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable one speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A second time, friend, I invite the venerable one with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable one speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A third time, friend, I invite the venerable one with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable one speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends.'
"The junior bhikkhu, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having sat down squatting, having raised his joined palms, should address the elder bhikkhu thus: 'Venerable sir, I invite the venerable one with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable one speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A second time, venerable sir, I invite the venerable one with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable one speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends. A third time, venerable sir, I invite the venerable one with regard to what has been seen, heard, or suspected; let the venerable one speak to me out of compassion; seeing it, I shall make amends.'"
Now at that time, in a certain residence, on the day of the Invitation one bhikkhu was dwelling. Then it occurred to that bhikkhu: "It has been allowed by the Blessed One for five to perform the Invitation as a Saṅgha, for four to perform the Invitation to one another, for three to perform the Invitation to one another, for two to perform the Invitation to one another; and I am alone. How, then, should the Invitation be performed by me?" They informed the Blessed One of this matter. "Here, bhikkhus, in a certain residence, on the day of the Invitation one bhikkhu is dwelling. Bhikkhus, that bhikkhu, having swept the place where bhikkhus resort—whether an attendance hall, a pavilion, or the foot of a tree—having set out drinking water and water for use, having prepared a seat, having made a lamp, should sit down. If other bhikkhus come, he should perform the Invitation together with them; if they do not come, he should determine: 'Today is my Invitation.' If he should not so determine, there is an offense of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa).
"Herein, bhikkhus, where five bhikkhus are dwelling, the Invitation of one should not be conveyed and the Invitation performed by four as a Saṅgha; if they should so perform it, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Herein, bhikkhus, where four bhikkhus are dwelling, the Invitation of one should not be conveyed and the Invitation performed by three to one another; if they should so perform it, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Herein, bhikkhus, where three bhikkhus are dwelling, the Invitation of one should not be conveyed and the Invitation performed by two to one another; if they should so perform it, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Herein, bhikkhus, where two bhikkhus are dwelling, the Invitation of one should not be conveyed and the determination made by one; if he should so determine, there is an offense of wrong-doing."
¹ Variant note in the Siam Raṭṭha edition: the Burmese and European editions read "saṅghe" ("in the Saṅgha"); so likewise hereafter.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.