The senior monks then said, “You have committed an act of wrong conduct, Ānanda, in that you didn’t ask the Buddha what the minor training rules are. Please confess that wrong conduct.” “It was because of lack of mindfulness that I didn’t ask. I can’t see that I have committed any wrong conduct, but I’ll confess it out of faith in the venerables.” “You have also committed an act of wrong conduct in that you stepped on the Buddha’s rainy-season robe while you were sewing it. Please confess that wrong conduct.” “I didn’t step on it because of disrespect. I can’t see that I’ve committed any wrong conduct, but I’ll confess it out of faith in the venerables.” “You have also committed an act of wrong conduct in that you first had women pay respect to the Buddha’s dead body. They soiled the Buddha’s body with tears. Please confess that wrong conduct.” “I did this so that it wouldn’t get too late for them. I can’t see that I’ve committed any wrong conduct, but I’ll confess it out of faith in the venerables.” “You have also committed an act of wrong conduct in that you didn’t ask the Buddha, even when he gave you a broad hint, to live on for an eon—for the benefit and happiness of humanity, out of compassion for the world, for the good, benefit, and happiness of gods and humans. Please confess that wrong conduct.” “I didn’t ask because my mind was possessed by the Lord of Death. I can’t see that I’ve committed any wrong conduct, but I’ll confess it out of faith in the venerables.” “You have also committed an act of wrong conduct in that you made an effort for women to be given the going forth on the spiritual path proclaimed by the Buddha. Please confess that wrong conduct.” “I made this effort because Mahāpajāpati Gotamī was the Buddha’s aunt who nurtured him, brought him up, and breastfed him when his own mother died. I can’t see that I’ve committed any wrong conduct, but I’ll confess it out of faith in the venerables.”

At that time Venerable Purāṇa was wandering in the Southern Hills with a large sangha of five hundred monks. Soon the senior monks had concluded the communal recitation of the Teaching and the Monastic Law. Then, when Purāṇa had stayed in the Southern Hills for as long as he liked, he went to the Bamboo Grove at Rājagaha. There he went up to the senior monks, exchanged pleasantries with them, and sat down. And they said to him, “Purāṇa, the senior monks have recited the Teaching and the Monastic Law. Please accept that communal recitation.” “The Teaching and the Monastic Law have been well-recited by the senior monks. Nevertheless, I’ll remember what I myself have received from the Buddha.”

3. Discussion of the supreme penalty