[293] Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Sāvatthī for as long as he wished, set out on tour toward Kiṭāgiri together with a great Saṅgha of bhikkhus, some five hundred bhikkhus, together with Sāriputta and Moggallāna. The bhikkhus who were followers of Assaji and Punabbasu heard: "The Blessed One, it is said, is coming to Kiṭāgiri together with a great Saṅgha of bhikkhus, some five hundred bhikkhus, together with Sāriputta and Moggallāna. Come, friends, let us divide up all the lodgings (senāsana) belonging to the Saṅgha. Sāriputta and Moggallāna have evil wishes; they have gone under the sway of evil wishes. We shall not prepare lodging for them." And they divided up all the lodgings belonging to the Saṅgha.
Then the Blessed One, wandering on tour by stages, arrived at Kiṭāgiri. Then the Blessed One addressed a number of bhikkhus: "Go, bhikkhus, approach the bhikkhus who are followers of Assaji and Punabbasu and say this: 'Friends, the Blessed One is coming together with a great Saṅgha of bhikkhus, some five hundred bhikkhus, together with Sāriputta and Moggallāna. Friends, prepare lodging for the Blessed One, for the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, and for Sāriputta and Moggallāna.'"
"Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One, and they approached the bhikkhus who were followers of Assaji and Punabbasu; having approached, they said this to the bhikkhus who were followers of Assaji and Punabbasu: "Friends, the Blessed One is coming together with a great Saṅgha of bhikkhus, some five hundred bhikkhus, together with Sāriputta and Moggallāna. Friends, prepare lodging for the Blessed One, for the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, and for Sāriputta and Moggallāna."
"Friends, there is no lodging belonging to the Saṅgha; it has all been divided by us. The Blessed One is welcome, friends: in whatever dwelling (vihāra) the Blessed One wishes, in that dwelling he will stay. But Sāriputta and Moggallāna have evil wishes; they have gone under the sway of evil wishes. We shall not prepare lodging for them."
"But friends, have you divided up the lodging belonging to the Saṅgha?"
"It is so, friends."
Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … criticized, deplored, and complained: "How can the bhikkhus who are followers of Assaji and Punabbasu divide up lodging belonging to the Saṅgha?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. …
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that the bhikkhus who are followers of Assaji and Punabbasu are dividing up lodging belonging to the Saṅgha?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
"How, bhikkhus, can those foolish men divide up lodging belonging to the Saṅgha? This, bhikkhus, is not for the arousing of confidence in those without confidence …" Having rebuked them and given a talk on the Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus:
"Bhikkhus, there are these five things not subject to division (avebhaṅgiya), which are not to be divided by a Saṅgha, or by a group, or by an individual; even when divided, they are not divided; whoever should divide them commits an offense of thullaccaya. What are the five?
"A park (ārāma), the site of a park — this is the first thing not subject to division; it is not to be divided by a Saṅgha, or by a group, or by an individual; even when divided, it is not divided; whoever should divide it commits an offense of thullaccaya.
"A dwelling, the site of a dwelling — this is the second thing not subject to division; it is not to be divided by a Saṅgha, or by a group, or by an individual; even when divided, it is not divided; whoever should divide it commits an offense of thullaccaya.
"A bed, a bench, a mattress, a pillow — this is the third thing not subject to division; it is not to be divided by a Saṅgha, or by a group, or by an individual; even when divided, it is not divided; whoever should divide it commits an offense of thullaccaya.
"A metal pot, a metal vessel, a metal jar, a metal basin, an adze, a hatchet, an axe, a hoe, a chisel — this is the fourth thing not subject to division; it is not to be divided by a Saṅgha, or by a group, or by an individual; even when divided, it is not divided; whoever should divide it commits an offense of thullaccaya.
"Creepers, bamboo, muñja grass, pabbaja grass, grass, clay, wooden goods, earthenware goods — this is the fifth thing not subject to division; it is not to be divided by a Saṅgha, or by a group, or by an individual; even when divided, it is not divided; whoever should divide it commits an offense of thullaccaya.
"These, bhikkhus, are the five things not subject to division, which are not to be divided by a Saṅgha, or by a group, or by an individual; even when divided, they are not divided; whoever should divide them commits an offense of thullaccaya."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.