[163] Now at that time a certain bhikkhu, having laid aside his robe in the Andha Grove (Andhavana), entered the village for alms wearing only his inner and upper robes (santaruttara). Thieves stole that robe. That bhikkhu was poorly clad, having only a coarse robe.
The bhikkhus said this: "Why, friend, are you poorly clad, having only a coarse robe?"
"Here, friends, having laid aside my robe in the Andha Grove, I entered the village for alms wearing only my inner and upper robes. Thieves stole that robe. That is why I am poorly clad, having only a coarse robe."
They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, one should not enter a village wearing only the inner and upper robes. Whoever should so enter commits an offence of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa)."
Now at that time the Venerable Ānanda, through unmindfulness, entered the village for alms wearing only the inner and upper robes. The bhikkhus said this to the Venerable Ānanda: "Friend Ānanda, has it not been laid down by the Blessed One that one should not enter a village wearing only the inner and upper robes? Why then, friend, did you enter the village wearing only the inner and upper robes?"
"It is true, friends, that it has been laid down by the Blessed One that one should not enter a village wearing only the inner and upper robes; but, friends, I entered through unmindfulness."
They reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, in this connection, having given a talk on the Dhamma, addressed the bhikkhus:
"Bhikkhus, there are these five grounds for laying aside the outer robe (saṅghāṭi): one is ill, or there is an appointed sign of the rains, or one has to go to the far bank of a river, or the dwelling is secured with a bolt, or the kaṭhina has been spread. These, bhikkhus, are the five grounds for laying aside the outer robe.
"Bhikkhus, there are these five grounds for laying aside the upper robe (uttarāsaṅga): one is ill, or there is an appointed sign of the rains, or one has to go to the far bank of a river, or the dwelling is secured with a bolt, or the kaṭhina has been spread. These, bhikkhus, are the five grounds for laying aside the upper robe.
"Bhikkhus, there are these five grounds for laying aside the inner robe (antaravāsaka): one is ill, or there is an appointed sign of the rains, or one has to go to the far bank of a river, or the dwelling is secured with a bolt, or the kaṭhina has been spread. These, bhikkhus, are the five grounds for laying aside the inner robe.
"Bhikkhus, there are these five grounds for laying aside the rains-bathing cloth (vassikasāṭikā): one is ill, or one has to go outside the boundary (sīmā), or one has to go to the far bank of a river, or the dwelling is secured with a bolt, or the rains-bathing cloth is unmade or unfinished. These, bhikkhus, are the five grounds for laying aside the rains-bathing cloth."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.