Parivāra

Verified

Grammatical Analysis

Parivāra: [m.] The Accessory; The Appendix; The Retinue. Derived from prefix pari (around) + root var (to surround, enclose).

Orthodox Definition

The Parivāra is the third and final division of the Vinaya Piṭaka. Unlike the Suttavibhaṅga and Khandhaka, which contain rich historical narratives and stories, the Parivāra is a highly technical, dry, and formalized manual composed entirely of lists, summaries, and legal cross-examinations.

It is believed to be a slightly later canonical compilation (likely formalized in Sri Lanka) designed specifically as a study guide for Vinaya masters (vinayadharas). It takes all the rules from the previous two divisions and reorganizes them categorically to test a monk’s legal knowledge. For example, it lists all rules that are broken by body but not by speech, or all rules that involve forfeiture.

It serves as the ultimate examination textbook to ensure that the complex monastic laws are memorized flawlessly and applied consistently.

parivāra-aṭṭhakathā Commentary on the Parivāra soḷasamahāvāro The Sixteen Great Sections paññattivāravaṇṇanā Description of the Section on Ordinances

Visuddhaparivārassa, parivāroti sāsane;
The Parivāra, in the Dispensation, belonging to the Blessed One who has a purified retinue,

Dhammakkhandhasarīrassa, khandhakānaṃ anantarā.
And being the body of Dhamma-aggregates, (comes) immediately after the Khandhakas.

Saṅgahaṃ yo samāruḷho, tassa pubbāgataṃ nayaṃ;
Leaving aside the prior method of that Vinaya, which has been compiled (into the Saṅgaha),

Hitvā dāni karissāmi, anuttānatthavaṇṇanaṃ.
I shall now make a commentary on its recondite meanings.

1. Tattha yaṃ tena bhagavatā…pe… paññattanti ādinayappavattāya tāva pucchāya ayaṃ saṅkhepattho – yo so bhagavā sāsanassa ciraṭṭhitikatthaṃ dhammasenāpatinā saddhammagāravabahumānavegasamussitaṃ añjaliṃ sirasmiṃ patiṭṭhāpetvā yācito dasa atthavase paṭicca vinayapaññattiṃ paññapesi, tena bhagavatā tassa tassa sikkhāpadassa paññattikālaṃ jānatā, tassā tassā sikkhāpadapaññattiyā dasa atthavase passatā; apica pubbenivāsādīhi jānatā, dibbena cakkhunā passatā, tīhi vijjāhi chahi vā pana abhiññāhi jānatā, sabbattha appaṭihatena samantacakkhunā passatā, sabbadhammajānanasamatthāya paññāya jānatā, sabbasattānaṃ cakkhuvisayātītāni tirokuṭṭādigatāni cāpi rūpāni ativisuddhena maṃsacakkhunā ca passatā, attahitasādhikāya samādhipadaṭṭhānāya paṭivedhapaññāya jānatā, parahitasādhikāya karuṇāpadaṭṭhānāya desanāpaññāya passatā, arahatā sammāsambuddhena ‘‘yaṃ paṭhamaṃ pārājikaṃ paññattaṃ, taṃ kattha paññattaṃ, kaṃ ārabbha paññattaṃ, kismiṃ vatthusmiṃ paññattaṃ, atthi tattha paññatti…pe… kenābhata’’nti.

1. In that (Parivāra), the summary meaning of the question that begins with, “Whatever was ordained by that Blessed One…”, is this: That Blessed One, who, for the sake of the long continuance of the Dispensation, was implored by the General of the Dhamma (Ven. Sāriputta) who had respectfully raised his clasped hands to his head, brimming with veneration and esteem for the good Dhamma, ordained the Vinaya-ordinance due to ten benefits. By that Blessed One, who knew the time of the ordination of each and every training rule, who saw the ten benefits of the ordination of each and every training rule; moreover, who knew by means of the knowledge of past lives and so on, who saw by means of the divine eye; or again, who knew by means of the three knowledges, or by means of the six supernormal powers, who saw by means of the all-pervading eye unhindered in all things, who knew by means of the wisdom capable of knowing all phenomena, who saw by means of the supremely pure physical eye even forms that transcended the range of all beings’ eyes, such as those behind walls, etc., who knew by means of the penetrative wisdom, which is the immediate cause of absorption, accomplishing his own benefit, who saw by means of the wisdom of teaching, which is the immediate cause of compassion, accomplishing the benefit of others, by the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, (the question was asked): “Where was the first Pārājika ordained? Concerning whom was it ordained? On what occasion was it ordained? Is there in it (this Pārājika) an original ordinance… and by whom was it brought forward?”

— Samantapāsādikā (Parivāra-aṭṭhakathā, Soḷasamahāvāra, Paññattivāravaṇṇanā)

Textual References

• Vinaya: Parivāra – Contains 19 chapters of legal summaries, Q&A catechisms, and mnemonic verses.
• Commentary: Samantapāsādikā – The commentary on this section focuses heavily on the logic of legal categorization.