A History of Pali Literature v2.c19.s3.37

v2.c19.s3.37

Translation :— “There are some theras, who, in the case of such vihārasīmās, would convene a chapter of five or six priests, would station them in a continuous row of places, which are each about the size of a bedstead, and whose distances are determined by the fall, all round, of stones thrown, first from the extremity of a vihārasīmā, and then towards the inside and outside of its limits, and would successively desecrate an avippavāsasīmā, and a samānasamvāsakasīmā. If either a khaṇḍasīmā or a mahāsīmā exists on that vihāra, the priests standing, as they do, in the midst of these sīmās, would, from a mañcaṭṭhāna, certainly desecrate the sīmā, and the gāmasīmā would remain. In this manner it is not essential to know the sīmā on its extent. But it is necessary for the reciters of the kammavācā to say : ‘We shall desecrate the inside of a sīmā (and act accordingly)’. It is stated in the Aṭṭhakathā that those who are aware of the existence of a khaṇḍasīmā, but not that of an avippavāsasīmā, are qualified to effect both desecration and consecration, and then thus, although the extent of a mahāsīmā is unknown, desecration may be effected. On the authority of this statement, they say that at any selected spot on the remaining gāmasīmā, it is appropriate to consecrate the two kinds of sīmās, and to perform the upasampadā ordination and such other ceremonies. This dictum appears to be correct; but it should be accepted after due enquiry.”