四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.54

2.54

"If a bhikṣu, when a householder or a householder's wife prepares the price of a robe for the bhikṣu, [intending to] buy such a robe and give it to bhikṣu so-and-so; and this bhikṣu, without previously having received an open invitation, goes to the householder's home and speaks thus: 'Excellent, householder! Please buy such a robe for me, so that it will be good [quality]'; if he obtains the robe, it is a niḥsargika-prāyaścittika." This complete precept has four clauses: 1. The offender; 2. The limitation of the robe donation; 3. 'This bhikṣu', down to not disdaining it as too little and encouraging them to increase it; 4. 'If he obtains the robe', down to the conclusion of the offense upon acquisition. The first two clauses can be understood. The third clause, from 'for the bhikṣu' up to 'for me so that it will be good', clarifies the meaning of disdaining it as too little and encouraging them to increase it. 'The price of a robe' refers to money, necklaces, or the like. If a householder asks a bhikṣu, "What kind of robe do you need?", the Buddha permitted asking for something of lesser quality. Now, if the householder has prepared silk cloth and one encourages them to buy coarse pongee silk, one commits an offense. Thus the Sarvāstivāda Vinaya says that encouraging an increase in color also constitutes an offense. This precept is formulated because the donor's intention was limited, yet one disdained it as too little and sought more, even by an increase of a sixteenth of a coin; or if one increases the thread, it is also an offense. The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā states that urging an increase in color, size, or price—these three are niḥsargika-prāyaścittika. The phrase 'obtains the robe, it is a niḥsargika-prāyaścittika' is the fourth clause concluding the offense. The meanings of forfeiture, confession, and returning or not returning are explained as above. Regarding non-offenses, the Vinaya says: if one has previously received an open invitation and goes to seek within the limits of contentment; if, within what was sought, one makes it less; if one seeks from relatives; if one seeks from renunciants; or if one seeks for another; or if one's seeking is spontaneously obtained, there is no offense.