The elephant told another elephant, “Listen, give as many roots and tubers as the venerable needs.” It plunged into the Mandākinī lotus pond and pulled up lotus roots and tubers with his trunk. It gave them a good rinse, bound them in a bundle, and went up to Mahāmoggallāna.

Then, just as a strong man might bend or stretch his arm, Mahāmoggallāna disappeared from the banks of the Mandākinī lotus pond and reappeared in the Jeta Grove. And that elephant did the same. It had the roots and tubers offered to Mahāmoggallāna, before returning to the Mandākinī lotus pond in the same manner. Mahāmoggallāna then brought those lotus roots and tubers to Sāriputta. When he had eaten them, his fever subsided. But there was much left over.

At this time, food was scarce, and the monks were refusing invitations to eat more even after taking just a little. After reflection, they were even declining altogether. And so now that the whole Sangha was being invited, being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not accept. “Accept, monks, and eat. I allow one who has finished his meal and refused an invitation to eat more to eat non-leftovers coming from the forest or a lotus pond.”

On one occasion in Sāvatthī, much fruit had been given, but there was no attendant. Being afraid of wrongdoing, the monks did not eat it. “I allow you to eat fruit that hasn’t been made allowable if it’s seedless or the seeds have been removed.”

8. Discussion of the prohibition against surgery