四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 1.250

1.250

問：羯磨所被幾人？答：不同也。若諫喻和諍，得加多少；至於治舉乞為，不得至四，名非法也。《四分》：難事得二三人一時受戒。《五分》：通諸羯磨，不得加四。《毘尼母》云：諸比丘集，作非法事，若有三四五伴，可得諫之，獨一不須諫也。何以故？大眾力大，或能擯出，自得苦惱，故應默然不言。《四分》中：十五種默，大同於此。廣如〈眾網〉中。

Question: How many persons can be the subject of a karman? Answer: It varies. If it is admonition or settling disputes, more or fewer persons may be addressed. But when it comes to disciplinary censure or requesting a ritual on their behalf, it cannot reach four persons; [otherwise] it is called an invalid rite. The Dharmaguptaka Vinaya states: in times of difficulty, two or three persons may receive the precepts at the same time. The Pañcavargika Vinaya states: across all karmans, it cannot reach four persons. The Vinayamātṛkā states: 'When bhikṣus assemble and perform an invalid act, if there are three, four, or five companions, one may admonish them; if one is alone, one need not admonish. Why? Because the assembly has great power and might banish him, causing him distress; therefore he should remain silent and not speak.' In the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, the fifteen kinds of silence are mostly identical to this. It is explained at length in the chapter 'The Assembly's Net'.