(Mv.IV.15.1) [244] Now on that occasion, at a certain residence in the Kosalan countryside, on the day of the Invitation, there was fear about Savaras.[2] [3] The monks couldn’t invite by three statements. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow that you invite by two statements.”

There was even greater fear about Savaras. The monks couldn’t invite by two statements. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“I allow that you invite by one statement.”

There was even greater fear about Savaras. The monks couldn’t invite by one statement. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“I allow you to invite by equal Rains[4].”

(Mv.IV.15.2) Now on that occasion, at a certain monastery on the day of the Invitation most of the day and night[5] was spent with people giving gifts. Then the thought occurred to the monks, “Most of the day and night has been spent with these people giving gifts. If the Saṅgha invites by three statements, the night will end and the Saṅgha will not have (all) invited. What should we do?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

(Mv.IV.15.3) “Monks, there is the case where, at a certain monastery on the day of the Invitation, most of the day and night is spent with people giving gifts.

“If the thought occurs to the monks there, ‘Most of the day and night has been spent with people giving gifts. If the Saṅgha invites by three statements, the night will end and the Saṅgha will not have (all) invited,’ “(then) an experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha:

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. Most of the day and night has been spent with people giving gifts.

“‘If the Saṅgha invites by three statements, the night will end and the Saṅgha will not have (all) invited.

“‘If the Saṅgha is ready, it should invite by two statements … by one statement … by equal Rains.’

(Mv.IV.15.4) “Monks, there is the case where, at a certain monastery on the day of the Invitation most of the day and night is spent with the monks speaking Dhamma … with sutta-monks chanting the suttas together … with Vinaya experts analyzing the Vinaya … with Dhamma-speakers discussing the Dhamma … with the monks quarreling[6].

“If the thought occurs to the monks there, ‘Most of the day and night has been spent with the monks making an uproar. If the Saṅgha invites by three statements, the night will end and the Saṅgha will not have (all) invited,’ (then) an experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha:

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. Most of the day and night has been spent with the monks making an uproar.

“‘If the Saṅgha invites by three statements, the night will end and the Saṅgha will not have (all) invited.

“‘If the Saṅgha is ready, it should invite by two statements … by one statement … by equal Rains.’”

(Mv.IV.15.5) Now on that occasion, at a certain residence in the Kosalan countryside, on the day of the Invitation, a large Saṅgha of monks had gathered. There was limited space protected from the rain, and a great cloud had risen up. Then the thought occurred to the monks, “This large Saṅgha of monks has gathered, there is limited space protected from the rain, and a great cloud has risen up. If the Saṅgha invites by three statements, the Saṅgha will not have (all) invited before this cloud rains down. What should we do?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

(Mv.IV.15.6) “Monks, there is the case where at a certain residence on the day of the Invitation a large Saṅgha of monks has gathered.

“There is limited space protected from the rain, and a great cloud has risen up.

“If the thought occurs to the monks, ‘This large Saṅgha of monks has gathered, there is limited space protected from the rain, and a great cloud has risen up. If the Saṅgha invites by three statements, the Saṅgha will not have (all) invited before this cloud rains down,’ (then) an experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha:

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. This large Saṅgha of monks has gathered.

“‘There is limited space protected from the rain, and a great cloud has risen up.

“‘If the Saṅgha invites by three statements, the Saṅgha will not have (all) invited before this cloud rains down.”

“‘If the Saṅgha is ready, it should invite by two statements … by one statement … by equal Rains.’

(Mv.IV.15.7) “Monks, there is the case where at a certain residence on the day of the Invitation there is a king obstruction … [7] there is a thief obstruction … there is a fire obstruction … there is a water obstruction … there is a human being obstruction … there is a non-human being obstruction … there is a beast obstruction … there is a creeping-pest obstruction … there is a life obstruction … there is a celibacy obstruction.

“If the thought occurs to the monks, ‘There is this celibacy-obstruction. If the Saṅgha invites by three statements, the Saṅgha will not have (all) invited before this celibacy-obstruction occurs,’ (then) an experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha:

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. There is this celibacy-obstruction. If the Saṅgha invites by three statements, the Saṅgha will not have (all) invited before this celibacy-obstruction occurs.’

“‘If the Saṅgha is ready, it should invite by two statements … by one statement … by equal Rains.’