Vinaya — Parivāra — Questions and answers on accusing, etc.

1“What is the purpose of accusing?
Why is there reminding?
What is the purpose of the Sangha?
Why is there the taking of advice?

2The purpose of accusing is reminding,
The purpose of reminding is restraint;
The purpose of the Sangha is scrutiny,
But taking advice is individual.

3Don’t speak hastily,
Don’t speak fiercely;
Don’t be hostile—
If you are an investigator.

4Don’t speak fast,
Argumentative speech is not beneficial.
In line with the discourses and the Monastic Law,
In line with what has been laid down,

5Consider carefully <j>the proper procedure of examination,
As formulated by the skilled Awakened One,
Well-spoken in line with the training rules—
Do not ruin your future rebirth.
You should seek what is beneficial,
At the right time, what is connected with the goal.

6The statements of the accuser and the accused,
Do not consider them hastily:
If the accuser says the accused has offended,
But the accused says he has not,

7Then, proceeding,
Both should be dealt with <j>in line with their admission.
The conscientious admit their faults,
But there is no such thing among the shameless;
For even if the shameless should speak a lot,
They should be dealt with in line with their conduct.

8What are the shameless like,
In that an admission is not effective?
I ask you this:
What are they like, the people called shameless?

9They intentionally commit offenses,
Hide their offenses,
And follow a wrong course—
Such people are called shameless.

10I too know the truth—
Such people are called shameless.
And may I ask you something else:
What are they like, the people called conscientious?

11They do not intentionally commit offenses,
Nor do they hide them,
Nor do they follow a wrong course—
Such people are called conscientious.

12I too know the truth—
Such people are called conscientious.
And may I ask you something else:
What are they like, those who accuse illegitimately?

13They accuse at the wrong time, untruthfully,
Harshly, without benefit;
They accuse with a mind of ill will, <j>not a mind of good will—
Such a person is called <j>one who accuses illegitimately.

14I too know the truth—
Such a person is called <j>one who accuses illegitimately.
And may I ask you something else:
What are they like, those who accuse legitimately?

15They accuse at the right time, truthfully,
Gently, beneficially;
They accuse with a mind of good will, <j>not a mind of ill will—
Such a person is called one who accuses legitimately.

16I too know the truth—
Such a person is called one who accuses legitimately.
And may I ask you something else:
What are they like, <j>the people called ignorant accusers?

17They do not know the right order;
They are ignorant about it.
They do not know the sequence of statements;
They are ignorant about it—
Such people are called ignorant accusers.

18I too know the truth—
Such people are called ignorant accusers.
And may I ask you something else:
What are they like, <j>the people called learned accusers?

19They know the right order;
They are knowledgeable about it.
They know the sequence of statements;
They are knowledgeable about it—
Such people are called learned accusers.

20I too know the truth—
Such people are called learned accusers.
And may I ask you something else:
What is meant by accusing?

21One accuses because of failure in morality,
And for failure in conduct and view;
Also one accuses for failure in livelihood—
Because of this it is called accusing.”

22Verses on how to accuse properly are finished.