Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c36.2333

v2.c36.2333

The care of the Saṅgha and the protection of its members' integrity was Sāriputta's especial concern by virtue of his position as the Buddha's Chief Disciple. Thus we find him being sent with Moggallāna to bring back the monks who had seceded with Devadatta.¹⁷ His admonitions to the monks sometimes made him unpopular—e.g., in the case of the Assaji-Punaabbasukā, the Chabbaggiyā (who singled him out for special venom) and Kokālika.¹⁸ When Channa declared his intention of committing suicide, Sāriputta attempted to dissuade him, but without success.¹⁹ Monks sought his advice in their difficulties.²⁰ He was greatly perturbed by the dissensions of the Kosambi, and consulted the Buddha, at length, as to what he could do about it.²¹ He was meticulous about rules laid down by the Buddha. Thus a rule had been laid down that one monk could ordain only one sāmaṇera, and when a boy was sent to him for ordination from a family which had been of great service to him, Sāriputta refused the request of the parents till the Buddha had rescinded the rule.²² Another rule forbade monks to eat garlic (lasuna), and when Sāriputta lay ill and knew he could be cured by garlic, even then he refused to eat them till permission was given by the Buddha for him to do so.²³ The Dhammapada Commentary²⁴ describes how, at the monastery in which Sāriputta lived, when the other monks had gone for alms, he made the round of the entire building, sweeping the unswept places, filling empty vessels with water, arranging furniture, etc., lest heretics, coming to the monastery, should say: "Behold the residences of Gotama's pupils." But even then he did not escape censure from his critics. A story is told²⁵ of how he was once charged with greed, and the Buddha himself had to explain to the monks that Sāriputta was blameless. While Sāriputta was severe in the case of those who failed to follow the Buddha's discipline, he did not hesitate to rejoice with his fellow-monks in their successes. Thus we find him congratulating Moggallāna on the joy he obtained from his iddhi-powers, and praising his great attainments (praise which evoked equally generous counter-praise),²⁶ and eulogising Anuruddha on his perfected discipline won through the practice of the four satipaṭṭhānas.²⁷ It was the great encouragement given by Sāriputta to Samitigutta (q.v.), when the latter lay ill with leprosy in the infirmary, which helped him to become an arahant. It was evidently the custom of Sāriputta to visit sick monks, as did the Buddha himself.²⁸ So great was Sāriputta's desire to encourage and recognize merit in his colleagues, that he once went about praising Devadatta’s *iddhi*-powers, which made it difficult for him when later he had to proclaim, at the bidding of the Saṅgha, Devadatta’s evil nature.²⁹