འདལ་བ་གཞ 4.1

4.1

In the brief summary verse of the Varṣāvastu:
“Observing the varṣā, food,
Interruption of the varṣā, the five,
Mica, leaves, grass shoes,
Varṣā, and carman are four.”
In the topical verse:
“Permission for the varṣā retreat,
Going out at daybreak,
Seven days for business,
What ought to be done on going.”
The Buddha, the Blessed One, agreed to observe the varṣā retreat in Śrāvastī, at the park of Anāthapiṇḍada in the grove of Prince Jeta. At that time, bhikṣus went wandering about the countryside in the middle of the rains. When they went wandering about the countryside in the middle of the rains, unrestrained, unprotected, and unconcealed, tīrthikas criticized, derided, and complained, saying: “Learned ones, these ascetics, sons of the Śākya, are destroyers of life! They have not turned away, not completely turned away, not desisted from destroying life! They wander through the countryside in the middle of the rains, and as they wander through the countryside in the middle of the rains, they trample upon swarms of many small and very tiny living creatures, depriving them of life! Even a swallow shrinks and cowers entirely within its nest for the four months of the rains; yet these shaven-headed ascetics do not even understand such an undertaking! Who would give alms to these shaven-headed ascetics or even think of doing so?” The bhikṣus reported this matter to the Blessed One, and the Blessed One stated: