[672] By how many means of settlement (samatha) is a legal issue arising from dispute (vivādādhikaraṇa) settled? A legal issue arising from dispute is settled by two means of settlement: by resolution in the presence (sammukhāvinaya) and by decision of the majority (yebhuyyasikā).
"Might a legal issue arising from dispute, without recourse to one means of settlement — the decision of the majority — be settled by one means of settlement, by resolution in the presence?" It should be answered: "It might." How so? Here, bhikkhus, bhikkhus dispute: "It is Dhamma," or "It is not Dhamma"; "It is Vinaya," or "It is not Vinaya"; "It was spoken and uttered by the Tathāgata," or "It was not spoken and not uttered by the Tathāgata"; "It was practiced by the Tathāgata," or "It was not practiced by the Tathāgata"; "It was laid down by the Tathāgata," or "It was not laid down by the Tathāgata"; "It is an offense (āpatti)," or "It is not an offense"; "It is a light offense," or "It is a grave offense"; "It is an offense with remainder," or "It is an offense without remainder"; "It is a serious offense," or "It is not a serious offense." If, bhikkhus, those bhikkhus are able to settle that legal issue (adhikaraṇa), this, bhikkhus, is called a legal issue that has been settled. Settled by what? By resolution in the presence. And what is there in that resolution in the presence? The presence of the Saṅgha, the presence of the Dhamma, the presence of the Vinaya, and the presence of the persons.
And what therein is the presence of the Saṅgha? As many bhikkhus as are entitled to take part in the formal act have come; the consent (chanda) of those entitled to give consent has been conveyed; and, being present, they do not protest — this therein is the presence of the Saṅgha.
And what therein is the presence of the Dhamma, the presence of the Vinaya? The Dhamma, the Vinaya, and the Teacher's instruction by which that legal issue is settled — this therein is the presence of the Dhamma, the presence of the Vinaya.
And what therein is the presence of the persons? The one who disputes and the one with whom he disputes — both opponents in the matter — are present face to face: this therein is the presence of the persons.
If, bhikkhus, a legal issue thus settled is reopened by one who took part in it, the reopening is a pācittiya offense; if one who gave consent criticizes it, the criticizing is a pācittiya offense.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.