Xct Mu Bi Pm Sk 82Na taṭe na prapāte na prāgbhāre pātraṁ nirmādayiṣyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na taṭe na prapāte na prāgbhāre pātraṁ nirmādayiṣyāma
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Commentary on Scripture Xct Mu Bi Pm Sk 82
On the Handling of Alms Bowls and Robes in the Community
Background
This scripture belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically the Sutta Vibhaṅga section of the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha — the training rules for bhikkhunīs. In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is the foundation governing the ethics and discipline of the monastic community, intended to protect harmony (saṅgha) and the purity of virtue (sīla).
The historical context of this scripture concerns precedent-setting disputes regarding the management of communal property and the personal belongings of bhikkhunīs. The Buddha established specific guidelines to prevent waste, conflict, and violations of the principle of alms-dependence.
Main Content
The phrase "Na taṭe na prapāte na prāgbhāre pātraṁ nirmādayiṣyāma" (we shall not damage the alms bowl upon a surface, nor throw it down, nor let it fall from before us) constitutes a prohibition expressing that the alms bowl (pātra) — the essential implement of a bhikkhunī's life — must not be used carelessly or intentionally damaged.
The alms bowl is no ordinary object. It is a symbol of the mendicant way of life: the bhikkhunī depends upon the generosity of the lay community for her sustenance. The bowl is regarded as the "second foremost supporting condition" after the robe. When a bhikkhunī allows her bowl to fall from her hands, deliberately throws it down, or sets it upon a surface in a manner that may cause damage, this is not merely a waste of material goods — it is also a lack of reverence for the dāna (offering) of the lay faithful.
This rule reflects specific disputes that arose within the early community: there were bhikkhunīs who, whether through inattentiveness or otherwise, would toss their bowls onto a surface or drop them from their hands, causing the bowls to crack or break. Suddenly, anger would arise among the bhikkhunīs over responsibility, or there would be anxiety that a damaged bowl would make the practice of alms-round difficult.
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