Sudinna, the son of a wealthy family of Kalanda village near Vesālī, goes forth as a monk; the Vinaya texts of every major school record this event. According to the Pali Vinaya, he resolved to go forth after hearing the Buddha teach; being an only son, he was at first refused by his parents, and only when he lay on the ground and refused to eat did they consent. After going forth and receiving , he practised simple austerities and lived in a village in the Vajjian country. Taishō Canon
Different Accounts
The year of his going forth: the later commentaries of the Southern tradition say “the Blessed One's twelfth year”; the Chinese Shanjian lü says “twelve years after the Buddha's awakening”; the Chinese Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya says the affair took place in the thirteenth year; the other Vinayas give no year number. Taishō Canon
More differences between accounts (3)
The manner of his going forth: the Pali Vinaya says he received the going forth and full ordination from the Buddha; the Chinese Mahīśāsaka Vinaya says the Buddha simply called “Come, ” and his hair fell away of itself and he became a monastic; the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya says he first took the five precepts as a and only later went forth.
The name: the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya has Suzhenna; the Chinese Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya has Yasa Kākaṇḍakaputta, but the father's name, the place and the story are the same. Taishō Canon
The exchange on “no going forth without the parents' consent” is found only in the Pali Vinaya and the Mahīśāsaka Vinaya; the Chinese Sarvāstivāda Vinaya says that after going forth he kept the in Kosala, and the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya says he left his relatives and went elsewhere.
Dating
Year 12 after the Awakening, the Buddha aged forty-six, after the rains retreat (after the Buddha's arrival at Vesālī); the year is given by the later commentaries, and only the year is known.
Related Entries
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Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
The episode of “Sudinna's going forth” is recorded by three schools, the Pali canon of the Southern tradition, the Chinese Dharmaguptaka Vinaya (Sifen lü) and the Chinese Mahīśāsaka Vinaya (Wufen lü). Attested across multiple schools. The exchange on “no ordination without the parents' consent” within it is recorded by two schools, the Pali canon of the Southern tradition and the Chinese Mahīśāsaka Vinaya (Wufen lü).
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Stated in the canonical text (the text itself gives the time); commentarial dating (the canonical texts give no date; later commentaries record it). Time precision: year only.
Sources
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1421 p.2b–c
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1428 p.569c–570a
- 大正藏大正藏 T23 no.1435 p.1a
- 大正藏大正藏 T23 no.1442 p.628a
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1425 p.229a
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1462 p.712b
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1462 p.710c–711a
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Vin-a，§24，PTS 1.202；，§31，PTS 1.208
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Sp-ṭ，§30，VRI 2.6、緬甸版 2.6
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 《Vajirabuddhi》，§23；，§30，VRI 0.63、緬甸版 0.69
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Vajirabuddhi
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1425 p.238a
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Vin-a，§31
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Sp-ṭ，§30
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 《Vajirabuddhi》，§30
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Vin-a，§24
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1421 p.2c