四分比丘戒本疏 1.43

1.43

Ninth: the precept on slandering a monk by fabricating the ground of a grave offence. The text has nine phrases: First, it allows for the offender. Second, 'out of hatred'. Third, 'taking a fragment from a different case': The thirteenth chapter of the Samantapāsādikā states that 'different case' means: Dabba is a human being, while a sheep is non-human; taking the sheep in place of Dabba is called a 'different case'. Taking a female goat in place of the nun Mettiyā is also called a 'different case'. Why is this? Because the matters were similar. Therefore, the Prātimokṣa text speaks of 'taking a fragment'. The Commentary states: '"Taking a fragment from a different case" means calculating a similarity.' As related in the Vinaya: the monk Meṭṭiya came down from Gṛdhrakūṭa Mountain and saw a large he-goat copulating with a she-goat. He then said to [his companion]: 'This he-goat is Dabba Mallaputta, and the she-goat is the nun Mettiyā.' He then said to the Saṃgha: 'I saw with my own eyes Dabba Mallaputta copulating with the nun Mettiyā.' The monk Meṭṭiya intended to assign the name Dabba to the he-goat; when he spoke to the Saṃgha, it was not completely groundless, but wishing the Saṃgha would believe it and wrongly punish Dabba, it is called 'fabricating a ground'. Although the ground of seeing on the sheep seemed like raising an offence, raising the offence was truly groundless regarding Dabba; therefore, it constitutes slander. The precept text is abridged. According to the Vinaya, fabricating an offence from a lower category, fabricating another offender, fabricating a time when one was a householder, and fabricating an echo of one's own speech are all called 'fabricating a ground'. If one actually saw the commission but claimed to have heard it, with respect to hearing it is non-existent, hence it is 'groundless' and not 'fabricating a ground'. Fourth, 'a monk who is not a pārājika': one who truly lacks the thirteen obstacles is also within this scope. Fifth, 'groundless': although there was a ground with the sheep, there was none with Dabba. Sixth, 'slanders with a pārājika dharma'. Seventh, the intention initiating the action. Eighth, voluntary submission and confession. Ninth, conclusion of the offence.