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Mv VI 10
PTS: Mv VI 23.10 | CS: vin.mv.06.10
Hatthimaṃsādipaṭikkhepakathā
The Discussion of the Prohibition Against the Flesh of Elephants, etc.[1]
by
Ven. Khematto Bhikkhu
Alternate translations/layout: 'line by line' Pāḷi - English

(Mv.VI.23.10) [60] Now on that occasion a king’s elephant had died. Because of the famine, people consumed the elephant flesh. They gave elephant flesh to monks going for alms. The monks consumed the elephant flesh. People criticized and complained and spread it about, “How can the Sakyan-son contemplatives consume elephant flesh? An elephant is a limb of the king. If the king found out, he wouldn’t be pleased.”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, one should not consume elephant flesh. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing.”

(Mv.VI.23.11) Now on that occasion some of the king’s horses had died. Because of the famine, people consumed the horse flesh. They gave horse flesh to monks going for alms. The monks consumed the horse flesh. People criticized and complained and spread it about, “How can the Sakyan-son contemplatives consume horse flesh? A horse is a limb of the king. If the king found out, he wouldn’t be pleased.”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, one should not consume horse flesh. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing.”

(Mv.VI.23.12) Now at that time, because of the famine, people consumed dog flesh. They gave dog flesh to monks going for alms. The monks consumed the dog flesh. People criticized and complained and spread it about, “How can the Sakyan-son contemplatives consume dog flesh? A dog is disgusting and loathsome.”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, one should not consume dog flesh. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing.”

(Mv.VI.23.13) Now at that time, because of the famine, people consumed snake flesh. They gave snake flesh to monks going for alms. The monks consumed the snake flesh. People criticized and complained and spread it about, “How can the Sakyan-son contemplatives consume snake flesh? A snake is disgusting and loathsome.”

And Supassa the nāga king went to the Blessed One and on arrival, having bowed down, stood to one side.

As he was standing there, he said to the Blessed One, “Lord, there are nāgas without faith, without confidence. They would harm monks over even a trifle. It would be good, lord, if the masters were to not consume snake flesh.”[2] Then the Blessed One instructed, urged, roused, & encouraged Supassa the nāga king with a Dhamma talk. Having been instructed, urged, roused, & encouraged by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, he bowed down to him, circumambulated him, keeping him to his right, and left.

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

“Monks, one should not consume snake flesh. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing.”

(Mv.VI.23.14) Now at that time hunters, having killed a lion, consumed lion flesh. They gave lion flesh to monks going for alms. Having consumed the lion flesh, the monks stayed in the wilderness. Lions attacked the monks because of the smell of lion flesh. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, one should not consume lion flesh. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing.”

(Mv.VI.23.15) Now at that time hunters, having killed a tiger, consumed tiger flesh. They gave tiger flesh to monks going for alms. Having consumed the tiger flesh, the monks stayed in the wilderness. Tigers attacked the monks because of the smell of tiger flesh. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, one should not consume tiger flesh. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing.”

Now at that time hunters, having killed a leopard, consumed leopard flesh. They gave leopard flesh to monks going for alms. Having consumed the leopard flesh, the monks stayed in the wilderness. Leopards attacked the monks because of the smell of leopard flesh. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, one should not consume leopard flesh. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing.”

Now at that time hunters, having killed a bear, consumed bear flesh. They gave bear flesh to monks going for alms. Having consumed the bear flesh, the monks stayed in the wilderness. Bears attacked the monks because of the smell of bear flesh. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, one should not consume bear flesh. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing.”

Now at that time hunters, having killed a hyena, consumed hyena flesh. They gave hyena flesh to monks going for alms. Having consumed the hyena flesh, the monks stayed in the wilderness. Hyenas attacked the monks because of the smell of hyena flesh. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, one should not consume hyena flesh. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing.”

The second recitation section, on Suppiya, is finished.

Notes

1.
See also: BMCI: Food chapter.
2.
ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho supasso nāgarājā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca santi bhante nāgā assaddhā appasannā te appamattakepi [ME: appamattakehipi] bhikkhū viheṭheyyuṁ sādhu bhante ayyā ahimaṁsaṁ na paribhuñjeyyunti.
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