The motion by which one monk is appointed to question the candidates, with the note that they are asked one at a time.
- When chanted
- Spoken at an ordination once the candidates have come before the assembly.
A note on this chant. The book prints this chant in Pali only, with no Thai translation. The English here is a working translation prepared for this edition — it is not the book's own, and has not yet been checked by a teacher.
Historical background
อันตรายิกธรรม are the obstructing conditions — the things that would make an ordination invalid, and which the candidate must be asked about before it proceeds.
Nobody questions a candidate on their own authority. A monk has first to be appointed to do it, by a motion put to the assembly, and this is that motion.
Meaning and purpose
The form is the standard one: let the Sangha hear me; if the Sangha is ready, I would question so-and-so on the obstructing conditions. Permission is sought even for asking questions.
The bracketed note is the operative detail: questioned one at a time. However many candidates are present, the questioning is individual, because what is being established is individual.
Taken with the pages either side of it, this is a procedure built almost entirely out of asking permission — to call them in, to question them, to put the motion, to carry it. Each step is a separate act that the assembly could refuse.
The chant
As the book prints it: page 297 →
page 297สุณาตุ เม ภันเต สังโฆ,
Suṇātu me bhante saṅgho,
Let the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, hear me. If the Saṅgha is ready, I would question Puṇṇa and Subha on the obstructing conditions.
ปุณโณ จะ สุโภ จะ อายัส๎มะโต มะนุสสะนาคัสสะ อุปะสัมปะทาเปกขา,
Puṇṇo ca subho ca āyasmato manussanāgassa upasampadāpekkhā,
…continues.
ยะทิ สังฆัสสะ ปัตตะกัลลัง,
Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṃ,
…continues.
ปุณณัญจะ สุภัญจะ อันตะรายิเก ธัมเม ปุจเฉยยัง
Puṇṇañca subhañca antarāyike dhamme puccheyyaṃ
…continues.
(สอบถามที่ละรูป)
(Questioned one at a time)