(Mv.V.13.3) Then, after having completed the Rains, as he was alone in seclusion, this train of thought appeared to Ven. Soṇa’s awareness:

“I’ve simply heard that the Blessed One is like this and like this. I haven’t seen him face-to-face. I would go to see the Blessed One, worthy & rightly self-awakened, if my preceptor would give me permission.”

So, leaving seclusion in the late afternoon, he went to Ven. Mahā Kaccāna and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to Ven. Mahā Kaccāna,

(Mv.V.13.4) “Just now, venerable sir, as I was alone in seclusion, this train of thought appeared to my awareness: ‘I’ve simply heard that the Blessed One is like this and like this. I haven’t seen him face-to-face. I would go to see the Blessed One, worthy & rightly self-awakened, if my preceptor would give me permission.’ Venerable sir, I would go to see the Blessed One, worthy & rightly self-awakened, if my preceptor would give me permission.’”

“Good, Soṇa. Very good. Go, Soṇa, to see the Blessed One, worthy & rightly self-awakened.

(Mv.V.13.5) “You will see the Blessed One who is serene & inspires serene confidence, his senses at peace, his mind at peace, one who has attained the utmost tranquility & poise, tamed, guarded, his senses restrained, a Great One.

“On seeing him, show reverence with your head to his feet in my name, (saying,) ‘Lord, my preceptor, Ven. Mahā Kaccāna, shows reverence with his head to your feet.’

“Also say, ‘Lord, Avantī and the Southern Route [The Deccan] have few monks. Only after three years — having gathered from here & there with hardship & difficulty a quorum-of-ten Saṅgha of monks — did I obtain the Acceptance.

“‘Perhaps the Blessed One would allow the Acceptance by a smaller quorum in Avantī and the Southern Route.

(Mv.V.13.6) “‘Lord, in Avantī and the Southern Route the ground has black surface soil, it’s rough, scarred by the hooves of cattle. Perhaps the Blessed One would allow multi-soled leather footwear in Avantī and the Southern Route.

“‘Lord, in Avantī and the Southern Route, the people give importance to bathing; they are water-bathers. Perhaps the Blessed One would allow regular bathing in Avantī and the Southern Route.

“‘Lord, in Avantī and the Southern Route, (they use) hide-coverings: sheepskin, goatskin, deerskin. Lord, just as in the Middle Country (we use) eraka grass, moragū grass, majjāru grass, and jantu grass: In the same way, lord, in Avantī and the Southern Route, (they use) hide-coverings: sheepskin, goatskin, deerskin.

“‘Perhaps the Blessed One would allow, in Avantī and the Southern Route, hide-coverings: sheepskin, goatskin, deerskin.

(Mv.V.13.7) “‘Lord, at this time people give robe-cloth for monks who have gone outside of the (monastery) territory, (saying,) “We give this robe-cloth to so-and-so.” Coming back, they inform them, “This robe-cloth was given by people named so-and-so.” Anxious, they don’t consent to it, (thinking,) “May we not have a nissaggiya.” Perhaps the Blessed One would establish a procedure in regard to robe-cloth.”’

Responding, “As you say, venerable sir,” to Ven. Mahā Kaccāna, he got up from his seat, bowed down to him, and circumambulated him, keeping him to his right. Then he put his lodgings in order and, taking his robes and bowl, set out on a wandering tour toward Sāvatthī.

(Mv.V.13.8) Traveling by stages, he arrived at Sāvatthī, went to Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, and went to the Blessed One. On arrival, he bowed to the Blessed One and sat to one side. Then the Blessed One addressed Ven. Ānanda, “Ānanda, prepare lodgings for this incoming monk.”

Then Ven. Ānanda, (thinking,) “For anyone about whom the Blessed One directs me, ‘Ānanda, prepare lodgings for this incoming monk,’ the Blessed One wants to stay in the same lodging with that monk. The Blessed One wants to stay in the same lodging with Ven. Soṇa,” prepared lodgings for Ven. Soṇa in the dwelling that the Blessed One was staying in.

(Mv.V.13.9) [21] Then the Blessed One, having spent most of the night out in the open, entered the dwelling. Ven. Soṇa also having spent most of the night out in the open, entered the dwelling. Then the Blessed One, getting up as the night was ending, invited Ven. Soṇa, “May the Dhamma occur to you, monk, to speak it.”

Responding, “As you say, lord,” to the Blessed One, Ven. Soṇa chanted the entire Aṭṭhaka Vagga. The Blessed One, at the conclusion of Ven. Soṇa’s chanting, expressed high approval: “Good, monk. Very good. You have learned the Aṭṭhaka Vagga (verses) well, have considered them well, have borne them well in mind. You have a fine delivery, clear & faultless, that makes the meaning intelligible. How many Rains do you have, monk?”

“I have one Rains, Blessed One.”

“But why did you take so long (to ordain)?”

(Mv.V.13.10) “For a long time, lord, I have seen the drawbacks in sensuality, but the household life is confining with many duties, many things to be done.”

Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:

(Mv.V.13.11) [22] Then Ven. Soṇa, (thinking,) “The Blessed One approves of me. This is the time for my preceptor’s message,” got up from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, and putting his head down at the Blessed One’s feet, said to him,

“Lord, my preceptor, Ven. Mahā Kaccāna, shows reverence with his head to your feet.

“He also says, ‘Lord, Avantī and the Southern Route [The Deccan] have few monks. Only after three years — having gathered from here & there with hardship & difficulty a quorum-of-ten community of monks — did (Ven. Soṇa) obtain the Acceptance.

“‘Perhaps the Blessed One would allow the Acceptance by a smaller quorum in Avantī and the Southern Route.

“‘Lord, in Avantī and the Southern Route the ground has black surface soil, it’s rough, scarred by the hooves of cattle. Perhaps the Blessed One would allow multi-soled leather footwear in Avantī and the Southern Route.

“‘Lord, in Avantī and the Southern Route, the people give importance to bathing; they are water-bathers. Perhaps the Blessed One would allow regular bathing in Avantī and the Southern Route.

“‘Lord, in Avantī and the Southern Route, (they use) hide-coverings: sheepskin, goatskin, deerskin. Lord, just as in the Middle Country (we use) eraka grass, moragū grass, majjāru grass, and jantu grass: In the same way, lord, in Avantī and the Southern Route, (they use) hide-coverings: sheepskin, goatskin, deerskin.

“‘Perhaps the Blessed One would allow, in Avantī and the Southern Route, hide-coverings: sheepskin, goatskin, deerskin.

“‘Lord, at this time people give robe-cloth for monks who have gone outside of the (monastery) territory, (saying,) “We give this to so-and-so.” Coming back, they inform them, “This robe-cloth was given by people named so-and-so.” Anxious, they don’t consent to it, (thinking,) “May we not have a nissaggiya.” Perhaps the Blessed One would establish a procedure in regard to robe-cloth.”’

[23] Then the Blessed One, having given a Dhamma talk with regard to this cause, to this incident, addressed the monks:

“Avantī and the Southern Route have few monks. Monks, I allow, in all outlying districts, Acceptance by a group with a Vinaya expert as the fifth.(1)

(Mv.V.13.12) “In this case, these are outlying districts: In the east, there is a town called Kajaṅgala. Beyond that is Mahāsāla. Beyond that are outlying districts. Inside that is in the Middle.

“In the southeast, there is a river called the Sallavatī. Beyond that are outlying districts. Inside that is in the Middle.

“In the south, there is a town called Setakaṇṇika. Beyond that are outlying districts. Inside that is in the Middle.

“In the west, there is a brahman village called Thūna. Beyond that are outlying districts. Inside that is in the Middle.

“In the north, there is a mountain called Usīraddhaja. Beyond that are outlying districts. Inside that is in the Middle.

“Monks, I allow, in all such outlying districts, Acceptance by a group with a Vinaya expert as the fifth.

(Mv.V.13.13) “In Avantī and the Southern Route the ground has black surface soil, it’s rough, scarred by the hooves of cattle.

“Monks, I allow, in all outlying districts, multi-soled leather footwear.(2)

“In Avantī and the Southern Route, the people give importance to bathing; they are water-bathers.

“Monks, I allow, in all outlying districts, regular bathing.(3)

“In Avantī and the Southern Route, (they use) hide-coverings: sheepskin, goatskin, deerskin. Monks, just as in the Middle Country (we use) eraka grass, moragū grass, majjāru grass, and jantu grass: In the same way, in Avantī and the Southern Route, (they use) hide-coverings: sheepskin, goatskin, deerskin.

“Monks, I allow, in all outlying districts, hide-coverings: sheepskin, goatskin, deerskin.(4)

“And there is the case where people give robe-cloth for monks who have gone outside the territory, (saying,), ‘I give this robe-cloth for so-and-so.’ I allow that one consent to it, and there is no counting of the time-span as long as it has not come to his hand.”(5)

The Leather Khandhaka, the fifth, (is finished).