四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 3.190

3.190

初制意者。《僧祇》云：鉢是出家人器，非俗人所宜。《十誦》云：鉢是恒沙諸佛標誌，不得惡用。《善見》云：三乘聖人皆執瓦鉢乞食資生；無有因，四海以為家居，故名比丘。《中阿含》：鉢者，或名應器。

First, regarding the intention behind the prescription: The *Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya* says: The bowl is a vessel for home-leavers, not suitable for worldly people. The *Daśādhyāya-vinaya* says: The bowl is the mark of as many Buddhas as the sands of the Ganges; it must not be put to improper use. The *Samantapāsādikā* says: The holy ones of the three vehicles all hold earthenware bowls to beg for food to sustain their lives; having no cause [for attachment], they take the four seas as their home, hence they are called bhikṣus. The *Madhyamāgama* says: Bowls are also called 'responsive vessels' (pātra).