[295] Now at that time the bhikkhus of Āḷavī were assigning building work (navakamma) of such kinds as these:
They assigned building work merely for the placing of a lump (of clay);
they assigned building work merely for the plastering of a wall;
they assigned building work merely for the setting up of a door;
they assigned building work merely for the making of the bolt-socket;
they assigned building work merely for the making of a window-opening;
they assigned building work merely for the applying of white colour;
they assigned building work merely for the applying of black colour;
they assigned building work merely for the treatment with red ochre (geruka);
they assigned building work merely for the roofing;
they assigned building work merely for the binding (of the roof);
they assigned building work merely for the placing of a bhaṇḍikā (finial);
they assigned building work merely for the repairing of what is broken and dilapidated;
they assigned building work merely for the finishing plaster-work;
they assigned building work for twenty years;
they assigned building work for thirty years;
they assigned building work for life;
they even assigned a completed dwelling as building work for the duration of the smoke (dhūmakālika).
Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they criticized, complained, and spread it about, saying: "How can the bhikkhus of Āḷavī assign building work of such kinds as these—
assign building work merely for the placing of a lump (of clay);
assign building work merely for the plastering of a wall;
assign building work merely for the setting up of a door;
assign building work merely for the making of the bolt-socket;
assign building work merely for the making of a window-opening;
assign building work merely for the applying of white colour;
assign building work merely for the applying of black colour;
assign building work merely for the treatment with red ochre;
assign building work merely for the roofing;
assign building work merely for the binding (of the roof);
assign building work merely for the placing of a bhaṇḍikā;
assign building work merely for the repairing of what is broken and dilapidated;
assign building work merely for the finishing plaster-work;
assign building work for twenty years;
assign building work for thirty years;
assign building work for life;
and even assign a completed dwelling as building work for the duration of the smoke?"
Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. … "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus …?" … "It is true, Blessed One." … Having rebuked them and given a talk on the Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus:
"Bhikkhus, building work is not to be assigned merely for the placing of a lump (of clay);
building work is not to be assigned merely for the plastering of a wall;
building work is not to be assigned merely for the setting up of a door;
building work is not to be assigned merely for the making of the bolt-socket;
building work is not to be assigned merely for the making of a window-opening;
building work is not to be assigned merely for the applying of white colour;
building work is not to be assigned merely for the applying of black colour;
building work is not to be assigned merely for the treatment with red ochre;
building work is not to be assigned merely for the roofing;
building work is not to be assigned merely for the binding (of the roof);
building work is not to be assigned merely for the placing of a bhaṇḍikā;
building work is not to be assigned merely for the repairing of what is broken and dilapidated;
building work is not to be assigned merely for the finishing plaster-work;
building work is not to be assigned for twenty years;
building work is not to be assigned for thirty years;
building work is not to be assigned for life;
a completed dwelling is not to be assigned as building work for the duration of the smoke. Whoever should so assign it: an offense of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa).
"Bhikkhus, I allow the assigning of building work for a dwelling that has not been built or that is unfinished; for a small dwelling, having inspected the work, to assign building work for five or six years; for a half-gabled building (aḍḍhayoga), having inspected the work, to assign building work for seven or eight years; for a large dwelling or a stilted mansion (pāsāda), having inspected the work, to assign building work for ten or twelve years."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.