Xct Mu Bu Vb Sk 78Na nadyāḥ pratisrotaḥ pātrodakaṁ grahīṣyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na nadyāḥ pratisrotaḥ pātrodakaṁ grahīṣyāma
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Exposition of the Na Nadyāḥ Pratisrotaḥ Pātrodakaṁ Grahīṣyāma Scripture
Context
This scripture is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Sekhiya section (detailed training rules for monks and nuns). The Vinaya Piṭaka consists of rules issued by Śākyamuni Buddha to maintain discipline in the monastic community (Saṅgha), thereby helping us protect the path of practice and create conditions for practicing the Dhamma in purity.
This scripture concerns rules related to the use of natural resources, especially water, in daily practice. In the context of streams and rivers in the Buddha’s time, matters of daily living and resource use were regarded as elements inseparable from the path of pure practice.
Main Content
The title "Na nadyāḥ pratisrotaḥ pātrodakaṁ grahīṣyāma" is translated as "We shall not take bowl-water from a river flowing against the current," or may be understood more broadly as "We should not take water from unsuitable sources or from places where the water flows in an abnormal direction."
This Sekhiya rule reflects the Buddha’s spirit of care and respect for nature. When monks and nuns draw water for use (for washing bowls, drinking, or daily self-sufficiency), they need to choose natural, clean, and safe sources of water. Taking water from a reverse current may involve problems: the water may be stagnant, not flowing well, or may contain unclean matter.
Moreover, this rule also suggests a deeper dimension: practice should accord with the "natural flow" of the Dhamma (natural law), and should not go against the nature of reality and the working of the universe. Monks and nuns should follow the current of the Noble Eightfold Path (Ariyaṭṭhangika Magga) rather than trying to go against it.
Practical Meaning
This rule teaches us about heedfulness (appamāda) in even the smallest actions of monastic life. Every decision, even choosing a source of water, reflects the degree of alertness of the practitioner.
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