四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 2.92

2.92

The fourth [condition] is grave property (garuka-dravya). This refers to five māṣakas (coins), or what is worth five coins, which refers to other miscellaneous goods. The *Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā* asks: 'Stealing five coins constitutes a grave offense; what kind of coins are they?' The answer has three explanations: The first says: based on the kind of coin legally used in the land of Rājagṛha, one sets the limit according to those coins. The second says: whatever coin is used where the Buddhadharma exists is taken as the limit. The third also says: the Buddha instituted the precept based on the theft of five coins incurring the death penalty under the law of Rājagṛha; now, wherever the Buddhadharma exists, one takes as the limit the value of whatever property warrants execution for theft according to that country's law. Although there are three explanations, the masters of the treatise hold that the latter meaning should be correct. However, regarding the meaning of five coins, the Vinayas and treatises differ in their explanations. In adjudicating offenses, one should be comprehensive, but in maintaining restraint, one must be strict; thus the Vinaya states: 'Down to a blade of grass or a leaf, do not steal.' Nowadays, the masters mostly follow the *Daśādhyāya-vinaya*. It says: 'Stealing five coins means that ancient large copper coins constitute a grave offense; if one steals small coins, it requires eighty coins. In accordance with the place of the theft, five coins in common use there incurs the grave offense.' The *Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya* states: 'Kings have no fixed law, and their judgments on theft are variable; one should adopt the ancient law of Bimbisāra, where four coins and three kākanīs constitute a grave offense.' The *Dharmaguptaka-vinaya* merely states 'five coins'; based on this, setting aside the aforementioned Vinayas and treatises, the latter is superior; even with four coins and three kākanīs, the *Samantapāsādikā* explains it as also equivalent to five coins. The *Samantapāsādikā* says: 'If one steals jewels in a jar, inserts one's hand and takes them, once they have exited the mouth of the jar, it is a pārājika.' Another explanation says: 'Merely displacing them from their position is a pārājika, even before exiting the mouth of the jar.' The Vinaya master says: In the Vinaya precepts, one should follow what is strict. Furthermore, observing the five factors—place, time, newness or oldness, and so forth—defines a Vinaya master. Taking this text as proof, five coins is fitting.