<p>It's in the commentary to <a href="http://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=182" rel="nofollow noreferrer">verse 182 of the Dhammapada</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>On seeing the Buddha, Erakapatta related to the Buddha how he had been a bhikkhu during the time of Kassapa Buddha, how he had accidentally caused a grass blade to be broken off while travelling in a boat, and how he had worried over that little offence for having failed to do the act of exoneration as prescribed, and finally how he was reborn as a naga.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-16T04:51:22.193Z
What does it mean by "Having failed to do the act of exoneration as prescribed"?
NuWin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-17T16:46:05.373Z
Monks have (many) monastic rules: page 272 of [this document](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc1.pdf) says, "The damaging of a living plant is to be confessed". So if a monk damages a living plant, they should "confess" that, i.e. tell another monk or tell the whole community of monks that they did that, described on page 161: "This confession is what clears him of the offense". So this act of the confession is what's meant by the "prescribed act of exoneration".
ChrisW
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2017-01-17T20:09:33.140Z
ah I see now. Thanks for taking the time to explain this.
NuWin
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2017-01-15T16:54:09.990Z
2017-01-15T16:54:09.990Z
ChrisW
<p>Where does the story appear about a monk who was born in a lower realm for breaking a leaf of a tree? </p>

<p>Also there are some related stories (use generally alongside the above) where small transgressions leading to disproportionately large karmic results. What are they and where can I find references?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-15T16:43:33.293Z
Sankha told that story [in this answer](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/9459/254) but without a reference.
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-15T16:49:25.640Z
This is a popular story in many Dhamma talks. I am trying to trace the source either in the Tipitaka or Commentaries.
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<reference-request>
A Monk Reborn in a Lower Realm for Breaking a Leaf
# A Monk Reborn in a Lower Realm for Breaking a Leaf

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-15)

Where does the story appear about a monk who was born in a lower realm for breaking a leaf of a tree?

Also there are some related stories (use generally alongside the above) where small transgressions leading to disproportionately large karmic results. What are they and where can I find references?

**Tags:** reference-request

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Sankha told that story [in this answer](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/9459/254) but without a reference.  
> **username_0**: This is a popular story in many Dhamma talks. I am trying to trace the source either in the Tipitaka or Commentaries.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-01-15. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

It's in the commentary to [verse 182 of the Dhammapada](http://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=182):

> On seeing the Buddha, Erakapatta related to the Buddha how he had been a bhikkhu during the time of Kassapa Buddha, how he had accidentally caused a grass blade to be broken off while travelling in a boat, and how he had worried over that little offence for having failed to do the act of exoneration as prescribed, and finally how he was reborn as a naga.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: What does it mean by "Having failed to do the act of exoneration as prescribed"?  
> **username_1**: Monks have (many) monastic rules: page 272 of [this document](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc1.pdf) says, "The damaging of a living plant is to be confessed". So if a monk damages a living plant, they should "confess" that, i.e. tell another monk or tell the whole community of monks that they did that, described on page 161: "This confession is what clears him of the offense". So this act of the confession is what's meant by the "prescribed act of exoneration".  
> **username_2**: ah I see now. Thanks for taking the time to explain this.  

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