Bu Sk 26

26. Pallatthikasikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū pallatthikāya antaraghare nisīdanti …pe….

Clasping the knees Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the monks from the group of six were clasping their knees while sitting in inhabited areas. …

“Na pallatthikāya antaraghare nisīdissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.

Final ruling

“‘I will not clasp my knees while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.”

Na pallatthikāya antaraghare nisīditabbaṁ. Yo anādariyaṁ paṭicca hatthapallatthikāya vā dussapallatthikāya vā antaraghare nisīdati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

One should not clasp one’s knees while sitting in an inhabited area. If a monk, out of disrespect, clasps his knees with his hands or with a cloth while sitting in an inhabited area, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Anāpatti—

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

asañcicca, assatiyā, ajānantassa, gilānassa, vāsūpagatassa, āpadāsu, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.

if it is unintentional; if he is not mindful; if he does not know; if he is sick; if he has entered his dwelling; if there is an emergency; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.