Pātimokkhaṭṭhapanāsutta — Upālivagga — the fourth chapter of the Tens
Setting
None stated in the source
Speakers
Venerable Upāli questioning the Buddha, continuing directly from AN 10.31
Form
A single question, a single ten-item answer, in five matched pairs
Length
~1 minute to read
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — procedural, but the paired structure is easy to follow once seen
Why this discourse
Upāli asks a second, more practical question: on what grounds may the fortnightly recitation of the monastic code be called off? The Buddha's answer names five kinds of taint to the assembly's purity, each given twice — once for when the fact is settled, once for when it is still being argued over.
Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
The recitation of the monastic code must be suspended on ten grounds: someone who has committed an expulsion offense, is unordained, has resigned the training, is a eunuch, or is a rapist of nuns is sitting in the assembly — or an unfinished discussion is underway about whether any of those five is true.
Five taints, doubled into ten
The list is not ten independent items but five paired ones: for each of the five conditions that would taint the assembly, the Buddha names both the settled case (the person is confirmed to be so) and the unsettled case (the matter is still under discussion). Either version halts the recitation.
Why purity of the assembly matters
The pātimokkha recitation is understood as an act the entire assembled Saṅgha performs together in a state of shared purity; a single disqualified or disputed presence is treated as compromising the whole act, not just that one person's participation — hence the recitation stops rather than merely excluding the individual on the spot.
Continuing directly from AN 10.31
No new narrative frame opens this discourse: it reads as a second question from the same Upāli, in the same conversation, moving from why the code exists (AN 10.31) to when its recitation cannot proceed.
Key terms
pārājika — an “expulsion offense” — the most serious grade of monastic offense, permanently disqualifying the offender from the monastic life.
anupasampanna — “not fully ordained” — someone present without the standing to take part in the Saṅgha's formal acts.
sikkhaṁ paccakkhātaka — “one who has resigned the training” — someone who has formally disavowed monastic life.
paṇḍaka — “eunuch” — the fourth of the five conditions named, whose presence, confirmed or disputed, suspends the recitation.
bhikkhunidūsaka — “a rapist of nuns” — the fifth and final taint named, whose presence likewise voids the recitation.
The text
The discourse in full: Upāli's question, and the Buddha's ten grounds. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Ten grounds to suspend recitation
§1“Sir, how many grounds are there to suspend the recitation of the monastic code?” “Upāli, there are ten grounds to suspend the recitation of the monastic code. What ten? A mendicant who has committed an expulsion offense is sitting in the assembly. A discussion about whether someone has committed an expulsion offense is unfinished. Someone who is not fully ordained is sitting in the assembly. A discussion about whether someone is fully ordained or not is unfinished. Someone who has resigned the training is sitting in the assembly. A discussion about whether someone has disavowed the training or not is unfinished. A eunuch is sitting in the assembly. A discussion about whether someone is a eunuch is unfinished. A raper of nuns is sitting in the assembly. A discussion about whether or not someone is a raper of nuns is unfinished. These are the ten grounds to suspend the recitation of the monastic code.”
· · ·
Self-check quiz
6 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 6
What does Upāli ask about in this discourse?
Correct: B. A practical follow-up question about when the recitation cannot proceed.
Question 2 of 6
How is the ten-item list actually structured?
Correct: B. Five taints, doubled into settled and unsettled versions.
Question 3 of 6
Which of these is one of the five conditions named?
Correct: A. One of the five taints; minor rule-breaking and weather are not among them.
Question 4 of 6
According to the guide, why does even an unsettled discussion halt the recitation?
Correct: B. Either the settled or the unsettled version of a taint is enough to stop the recitation.
Question 5 of 6
How does this discourse relate to AN 10.31?
Correct: B. Upāli continues questioning the Buddha without a fresh narrative setup.
Question 6 of 6
Where is this discourse set?
Correct: D. As with AN 10.31, no location is given.
