Lzh Mu Bu Pm Pc 39Eating Unoffered Food
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dantapona
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Text on Eating Food That Has Not Been Offered
Background
In the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, the Dantapona text is recorded in order to define one of the basic rules of practice for monks and nuns. In its historical context, the Buddha established disciplinary rules (Pātimokkha) not only to maintain order in the Sangha, the monastic community, but also to protect spiritual purity and the respect of laypeople.
The term "dantapona" (danta = teeth; pona = orderly) or "unoffered food" refers to food that laypeople do not intend to offer to the Sangha or to monks. This differs from "offered food," food that laypeople actively present with faith and respect.
Main Content
The text states that monks are permitted to eat food that has been formally offered, but are prohibited from eating food that has not been offered. This rule arises from the need to protect the ethics of the Sangha and maintain a respectful relationship with laypeople.
Specifically, situations that violate this rule include: when a monk takes food for himself from a layperson’s house without its being offered, or eats food that laypeople have prepared for another purpose, such as for their family, and that has not yet been offered. The purpose of the rule is to emphasize that a monk’s eating must take place through the voluntary offering of laypeople, not through taking or serving oneself.
This rule also refers to the difference between the needs of monks, who live simply and maintain inner purity, and the desires of ordinary human beings. By observing this rule, monks practice diligence, non-greed, and respect for the trust of laypeople.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.