釋氏要覽 1.258

1.258

善見律云。如有檀越來。請比丘沙彌雖未具戒。亦入比丘數。是為名字比丘○涅槃經云。譬如幼年。初得出家。雖未受具。即墮僧數○四分律云。從大比丘。下次第與沙彌房舍臥具。若利養隨次與之。

The Samantapāsādikā states: 'If a dānapati comes to invite bhikṣus, novices, although not yet possessing the full precepts, are also counted among the bhikṣus; these are nominal bhikṣus.' / The Nirvāṇa-sūtra states: 'For example, one who is young and has just left home, although not yet having received the full precepts, falls into the count of the Saṃgha.' / The Dharmaguptaka-vinaya states: 'From the senior bhikṣus down, rooms and bedding should be given sequentially to the novices; if there are offerings, they should be distributed sequentially according to order.'