Now at that time the Bhikkhus in chapter (Samgha) assembled, since they became violent, quarrelsome, and disputatious, and kept on wounding one another with sharp words 4, were unable
to settle the disputed question (that was brought before them).
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
1'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to settle such a dispute by the vote of the majority. A Bhikkhu who shall be possessed of five qualifications shall be appointed as taker of the voting tickets--one who does not walk in partiality, one who does not walk in malice, one who does not walk in folly, one who does not walk in fear 2, one who knows what (votes) have been taken and what have not been taken.
'And thus shall he be appointed.
'First the Bhikkhu is to be requested (whether he will undertake the office). Then some able and discreet Bhikkhu is to bring the matter before the Samgha, saying,
'"Let the venerable Samgha hear me. If the time seems meet to the Samgha, let the Samgha appoint a Bhikkhu of such and such a name as taker of the voting tickets.
'"This is the motion (ñatti).
'"Let the venerable Samgha hear me. The Samgha appoints a Bhikkhu of such and such a name as taker of the tickets. Whosoever of the venerable ones approves of the Bhikkhu of such and such a name being appointed as taker of the
tickets, let him keep silence. Whosoever approves not thereof, let him speak. The Bhikkhu of such and such a name is appointed by the Samgha as taker of the voting tickets. Therefore is it silent. Thus do I understand.'"
24:4 Aññamaññam mukhaisattîhi vitudantâ viharanti. Literally, 'with mouth-javelins.' Vitudati, and not vitûdati as Childers gives, is the right spelling. So Fausböll reads at Gâtaka II, 185, 186.
25:1 From here to the end of the chapter recurs in IV, 14, 24.
25:2 These are the qualifications always ascribed to one who rightly fills any judicial offence, and are called the four Agatis. They are the especial attributes of a good king sitting as judge, and are mentioned elsewhere (Samghâdisesa XIII; Mahâvagga VIII, 5, 2; VIII, 6, 1; and below, VI, 11, 2) of other officials of the order with duties similar to those in the text.