The Book of the Fives

Chapter XXIII: Wandering Afield

[191]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied; and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, there are these five disadvantages
in a family who eat
when the sun is right up.¹

What five?

Their honoured visitors
they honour not in time;

■

the devas who receive oblations
they honour not in time;

■

recluses and brāhmans
who have but one meal a day
abstain from eating at night,
eating at wrong times,
they honour not in time;

■

their slaves,
work-folk
and men
work as men averse² from work;

■

moreover as long as food is eaten unseasonably
it lacks strengthening³ qualities.

Monks, these are the five disadvantages
in a family who eat
when the sun is right up.'

"Monks, there are these five advantages
in a family who eat
in season.

What five?

Their honoured visitors
they honour in time;

■

the devas who receive oblations
they honour in time;

■

recluses and brāhmans
who have but one meal a day
abstain from eating at night,
eating at wrong times,
they honour in time;

■

their slaves,
work-folk
and men
work as men not averse from work;

■

moreover as long as food is eaten seasonably
it does not lack strengthening qualities.

Monks, these are the five advantages
in a family who eat
in season.'

¹ Ussūra. Comy. atidivā.

² Vimukha. Comy. observes: they give up and sit down.

³ Anojavanta. Comy. ojaṃ pharituṃ na sakkoti.