272 (1) An Assigner of Meals
(1) “Bhikkhus, one possessing five qualities should not be appointed an assigner of meals.1241 What five? He enters upon a wrong course because of desire; he enters upon a wrong course because of hatred; he enters upon a wrong course because of delusion; he enters upon a wrong course because of fear; he does not know which [meal] has been assigned and which has not been assigned. One possessing these five qualities should not be appointed an assigner of meals.
“Bhikkhus, one possessing five qualities may be appointed an assigner of meals. What five? He does not enter upon a wrong course because of desire; he does not enter upon a wrong course because of hatred; he does not enter upon a wrong course because of delusion; he does not enter upon a wrong course because of fear; he knows which [meal] has been assigned and which has not been assigned. One possessing these five qualities may be appointed an assigner of meals.”
(2)“Bhikkhus, if one who possesses five qualities is appointed an assigner of meals, he should not be sent.1242 What five? He enters upon a wrong course because of desire … he does not know which [meal] has been assigned and which has not been assigned. If one who possesses these five qualities is appointed an assigner of meals, he should not be sent.
“Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities, if appointed an assigner of meals, should be sent. What five? He does not enter upon a wrong course because of desire … he knows which [meal] has been assigned and which has not been assigned. One who possesses these five qualities, if appointed an assigner of meals, should be sent.”
(3) “Bhikkhus, an assigner of meals who possesses five qualities should be understood as foolish. What five? He enters upon a wrong course because of desire … he does not know which [meal] has been assigned and which has not been assigned. An assigner of meals who possesses these five qualities should be understood as foolish.
“Bhikkhus, an assigner of meals who possesses five qualities should be understood as wise. What five? He does not enter upon a wrong course because of desire … he knows which [meal] has been assigned and which has not been assigned. An assigner of meals who possesses these five qualities should be understood as wise.”
(4) “Bhikkhus, an assigner of meals who possesses five qualities maintains himself in a maimed and injured condition. What five? He enters upon a wrong course because of desire … he does not know which [meal] has been assigned and which has not been assigned. An assigner of meals who possesses these five qualities maintains himself in a maimed and injured condition.
“Bhikkhus, an assigner of meals who possesses five qualities preserves himself unmaimed and uninjured. What five? He does not enter upon a wrong course because of desire … he knows which [meal] has been assigned and which has not been assigned. An assigner of meals who possesses these five qualities preserves himself unmaimed and uninjured.”
(5) “Bhikkhus, an assigner of meals who possesses five qualities is deposited in hell as if brought there. What five? He enters upon a wrong course because of desire … he does not know which [meal] has been assigned and which has not been assigned. An assigner of meals who possesses these five qualities is deposited in hell as if brought there.
“Bhikkhus, an assigner of meals who possesses five qualities is deposited in heaven as if brought there. What five? He does not enter upon a wrong course because of desire … he knows which [meal] has been assigned and which has not been assigned. An assigner of meals who possesses these five qualities is deposited in heaven as if brought there.”
273 (2)–284 (13) An Appointer of Lodgings, Etc.
(273) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed an appointer of lodgings.1243 He enters upon a wrong course because of desire … he does not know which [lodging] has been appointed and which has not been appointed…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed an appointer of lodgings. He does not enter upon a wrong course because of desire … he knows which [lodging] has been appointed and which [lodging] has not been appointed….”
(274) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed an allocator of lodgings1244 … he does not know which [lodging] has been allocated and which [lodging] has not been allocated…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed an allocator of lodgings … he knows which [lodging] has been allocated and which [lodging] has not been allocated….”
(275) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed a guardian of the storeroom … he does not know which [goods] are being protected and which are not being protected…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed a guardian of the storeroom … he knows which [goods] are being protected and which are not being protected….”
(276) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed a receiver of robe-material … he does not know which [robe-material] has been received and which has not been received…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed a receiver of robe-material [275] … he knows which [robe-material] has been received and which has not been received….”
(277) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed a distributor of robe-material … he does not know which [robe-material] has been distributed and which has not been distributed…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed a distributor of robe-material … he knows which [robe-material] has been distributed and which has not been distributed….”
(278) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed a distributor of rice porridge … he does not know which [rice porridge] has been distributed and which has not been distributed…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed a distributor of rice porridge … he knows which [rice porridge] has been distributed and which has not been distributed….”
(279) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed a distributor of fruit … he does not know which [fruit] has been distributed and which has not been distributed…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed a distributor of fruit … he knows which [fruit] has been distributed and which has not been distributed….”
(280) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed a distributor of cakes … he does not know which [cakes] have been distributed and which have not been distributed…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed a distributor of cakes … he knows which [cakes] have been distributed and which have not been distributed….”
(281) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed a dispenser of small accessories … he does not know which [small accessories] have been dispensed and which have not been dispensed…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed a dispenser of small accessories … he knows which [small accessories] have been dispensed and which have not been dispensed….”
(282) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed an allocator of rains cloth … he does not know which [rains cloth] has been allocated and which has not been allocated…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed an allocator of rains cloth … he knows which [rains cloth] has been allocated and which has not been allocated….”
(283) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed an allocator of bowls … he does not know which [bowls] have been allocated and which have not been allocated…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed an allocator of bowls … he knows which [bowls] have been allocated and which have not been allocated….”
(284) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed a supervisor of monastery attendants … he does not know which [monastery attendant] has been supervised and which has not been supervised…. Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed a supervisor of monastery attendants … he knows which [monastery attendant] has been supervised and which has not been supervised….”
285 (14) A Supervisor of Novices
(1) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities should not be appointed a supervisor of novices. What five? He enters upon a wrong course because of desire … he does not know which [novices] have been supervised and which have not been supervised. One who possesses these five qualities should not be appointed a supervisor of novices.
“Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities may be appointed a supervisor of novices. What five? He does not enter upon a wrong course because of desire … he knows which [novices] have been supervised and which have not been supervised. One who possesses these five qualities may be appointed a supervisor of novices.”
(2) “Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities, if appointed a supervisor of novices, should not be sent. What five? He enters upon a wrong course because of desire … he does not know which [novices] have been supervised and which have not been supervised. One who possesses these five qualities, if appointed a supervisor of novices, should not be sent.
“Bhikkhus, one who possesses five qualities, if appointed a supervisor of novices, should be sent. What five? He does not enter upon a wrong course because of desire … he knows which [novices] have been supervised and which have not been supervised. One who possesses these five qualities, if appointed a supervisor of novices, should be sent.”
(3) “Bhikkhus, a supervisor of novices who possesses five qualities should be understood as foolish. What five? He enters upon a wrong course because of desire … he does not know which [novices] have been supervised and which have not been supervised. A supervisor of novices who possesses these five qualities should be understood as foolish.
“Bhikkhus, a supervisor of novices who possesses five qualities should be understood as wise. What five? He does not enter upon a wrong course because of desire … he knows which [novices] have been supervised and which have not been supervised. A supervisor of novices who possesses these five qualities should be understood as wise.”
(4) “Bhikkhus, a supervisor of novices who possesses five qualities maintains himself in a maimed and injured condition. What five? He enters upon a wrong course because of desire … he does not know which [novices] have been supervised and which have not been supervised. A supervisor of novices who possesses these five qualities maintains himself in a maimed and injured condition.
“Bhikkhus, a supervisor of novices who possesses five qualities preserves himself unmaimed and uninjured. What five? He does not enter upon a wrong course because of desire … he knows which [novices] have been supervised and which have not been supervised. A supervisor of novices who possesses these five qualities preserves himself unmaimed and uninjured.”
(5) “Bhikkhus, a supervisor of novices who possesses five qualities is deposited in hell as if brought there. What five? He enters upon a wrong course because of desire … he does not know which [novices] have been supervised and which have not been supervised. A supervisor of novices who possesses these five qualities is deposited in hell as if brought there.
“Bhikkhus, a supervisor of novices who possesses five qualities is deposited in heaven as if brought there. What five? He does not enter upon a wrong course because of desire … he knows which [novices] have been supervised and which have not been supervised. A supervisor of novices who possesses these five qualities is deposited in heaven as if brought there.”
1241 Bhattuddesaka. See Vin II 175,36–76. The procedures for appointing officials of the Saṅgha, and their respective tasks, are discussed in detail in Ṭhānissaro 2007b: 323–57.
1242 I translate in accordance with Be and Ee. A translation from Ce would read: “Bhikkhus, one possessing five qualities should not be appointed an assigner of meals. If he is appointed, he should not be sent.”
1243 Senāsanapaññāpaka. On his qualifications, see Vin II 176,9–14. Dabba Mallaputta’s duties as senāsanapaññāpaka are described at Vin III 158–60. The qualifications of the officers to follow here, except the next, are described at Vin II 176–77.
1244 Senāsanaggāhāpaka. This official is missing in Ee. It is unclear to me how the senāsanaggāhāpaka differs from the senāsanapaññāpaka. Ṭhānissaro, too, observes (2007b: 340): “The Canon allows for two officials related to lodgings: the lodging bestower (senāsanagāhāpaka) and the lodging assignor (senāsana-paññapanaka). Neither the Canon nor Commentary clearly distinguishes between the duties of the two.”