1.1PTS 4.274Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.1.2Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then Mahāpajāpati Gotamī went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him:

1.3“sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.“Sir, please let ladies gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

1.4“Alaṁ, gotami.“Enough, Gotamī.1.5Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.Don’t endorse the going forth for ladies from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

2.1Dutiyampi kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:For a second time …2.2“sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.2.3“Alaṁ, gotami.2.4Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.

3.1Tatiyampi kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:For a third time, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī said to the Buddha:

3.2“sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.“Sir, please let ladies gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

3.3“Alaṁ, gotami.“Enough, Gotamī.3.4Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.Don’t endorse the going forth for ladies from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

4.1Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī “na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.Then Mahāpajāpati Gotamī thought, “The Buddha does not permit ladies to go forth.” Miserable and sad, weeping, with a tearful face, she bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on her right, before leaving.

5.1PTS 4.275Atha kho bhagavā kapilavatthusmiṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena vesālī tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi.When the Buddha had stayed in Kapilavatthu as long as he pleased, he set out for Vesālī.5.2Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena vesālī tadavasari.Traveling stage by stage, he arrived at Vesālī,5.3Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.where he stayed at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.5.4Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī kese chedāpetvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā sambahulāhi sākiyānīhi saddhiṁ yena vesālī tena pakkāmi.Then Mahāpajāpati Gotamī had her hair shaved, and dressed in ocher robes. Together with several Sakyan ladies she set out for Vesālī.5.5Anupubbena yena vesālī mahāvanaṁ kūṭāgārasālā tenupasaṅkami.Traveling stage by stage, she arrived at Vesālī and went to the Great Wood, the hall with the peaked roof.5.6Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bahidvārakoṭṭhake aṭṭhāsi.Then Mahāpajāpati Gotamī stood crying outside the gate, her feet swollen, her limbs covered with dust, miserable and sad, with tearful face.

6.1Addasā kho āyasmā ānando mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhiṁ dummanaṁ assumukhiṁ rudamānaṁ bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitaṁ.Venerable Ānanda saw her standing there,6.2Disvāna mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca:and said to her,6.3“kiṁ nu tvaṁ, gotami, sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitā”ti?“Gotamī, why do you stand crying outside the gate, your feet swollen, your limbs covered with dust, miserable and sad, with tearful face?”

6.4“Tathā hi pana, bhante ānanda, na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.“Honorable Ānanda, it’s because the Buddha does not permit ladies to go forth in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

6.5“Tena hi tvaṁ, gotami, muhuttaṁ idheva tāva hohi, yāvāhaṁ bhagavantaṁ yācāmi mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.“Well then, Gotamī, wait here an hour while I ask the Buddha to grant the going forth for ladies.”

7.1Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

7.2“esā, bhante, mahāpajāpatī gotamī sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitā:“Sir, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī is standing crying outside the gate, her feet swollen, her limbs covered with dust, miserable and sad, with tearful face.7.3‘na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan’ti.She says that it’s because the Buddha does not permit ladies to go forth.7.4Sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.Sir, please let ladies gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

7.5“Alaṁ, ānanda.“Enough, Ānanda.7.6Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.Don’t endorse the going forth for ladies from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

8.1Dutiyampi kho …pe…For a second time …

8.2tatiyampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:For a third time, Ānanda said to the Buddha:

8.3“sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.“Sir, please let ladies gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

8.4“Alaṁ, ānanda.“Enough, Ānanda.8.5Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.Don’t endorse the going forth for ladies from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

9.1PTS 4.276Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi:Then Venerable Ānanda thought,9.2“na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ.“The Buddha does not permit ladies to go forth.9.3Yannūnāhaṁ aññenapi pariyāyena bhagavantaṁ yāceyyaṁ mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.Why don’t I try another approach?”

9.4Atha kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha,9.5“bhabbo nu kho, bhante, mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā sotāpattiphalaṁ vā sakadāgāmiphalaṁ vā anāgāmiphalaṁ vā arahattaphalaṁ vā sacchikātun”ti?“Sir, is a lady able to realize the fruits of stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and perfection once she has gone forth?”

9.6“Bhabbo, ānanda, mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā sotāpattiphalampi sakadāgāmiphalampi anāgāmiphalampi arahattaphalampi sacchikātun”ti.“She is able, Ānanda.”

9.7“Sace, bhante, bhabbo mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā sotāpattiphalampi …pe… arahattaphalampi sacchikātuṁ;“If a lady is able to realize the fruits of stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and perfection once she has gone forth.9.8bahukārā, bhante, mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavato mātucchā āpādikā posikā khīrassa dāyikā;Sir, Mahāpajāpati has been very helpful to the Buddha. As his aunt, she raised him, nurtured him, and gave him her milk.9.9bhagavantaṁ janettiyā kālaṅkatāya thaññaṁ pāyesi.When the Buddha’s birth mother passed away, she nurtured him at her own breast.9.10Sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.Sir, please let ladies gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

10.1“Sace, ānanda, mahāpajāpatī gotamī aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇhāti, sāvassā hotu upasampadā—“Ānanda, if Mahāpajāpati Gotamī accepts these eight principles of respect, that will be her ordination.

11.1Vassasatūpasampannāya bhikkhuniyā tadahūpasampannassa bhikkhuno abhivādanaṁ paccuṭṭhānaṁ añjalikammaṁ sāmīcikammaṁ kattabbaṁ.A nun, even if she has been ordained for a hundred years, should bow down to a monk who was ordained that very day. She should rise up for him, greet him with cupped palms, and observe proper etiquette toward him.11.2Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

12.1Na bhikkhuniyā abhikkhuke āvāse vassaṁ upagantabbaṁ.A nun should not commence the rainy season residence in a monastery without monks.12.2Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

13.1PTS 4.277Anvaḍḍhamāsaṁ bhikkhuniyā bhikkhusaṅghato dve dhammā paccāsīsitabbā—Each fortnight the nuns should expect two things from the community of monks:13.2uposathapucchakañca, ovādūpasaṅkamanañca.the date of the sabbath, and visiting for advice.13.3Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

14.1Vassaṁvuṭṭhāya bhikkhuniyā ubhatosaṅghe tīhi ṭhānehi pavāretabbaṁ—After completing the rainy season residence the nuns should invite admonition from the communities of both monks and nuns in regard to anything that was14.2diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā.seen, heard, or suspected.14.3Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

15.1Garudhammaṁ ajjhāpannāya bhikkhuniyā ubhatosaṅghe pakkhamānattaṁ caritabbaṁ.A nun who has committed a grave offense should undergo penance in the communities of both monks and nuns for a fortnight.15.2Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

16.1Dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya ubhatosaṅghe upasampadā pariyesitabbā.A trainee nun who has trained in the six rules for two years should seek ordination from the communities of both monks and nuns.16.2Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

17.1Na kenaci pariyāyena bhikkhuniyā bhikkhu akkositabbo paribhāsitabbo.A nun should not abuse or insult a monk in any way.17.2Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

18.1Ajjatagge ovaṭo bhikkhunīnaṁ bhikkhūsu vacanapatho, anovaṭo bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīsu vacanapatho.From this day forth it is forbidden for nuns to criticize monks, but it is not forbidden for monks to criticize nuns.18.2Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

19.1Sace, ānanda, mahāpajāpatī gotamī ime aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇhāti, sāvassā hotu upasampadā”ti.If Mahāpajāpati Gotamī accepts these eight principles of respect, that will be her ordination.”

20.1Atha kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato santike ime aṭṭha garudhamme uggahetvā yena mahāpajāpatī gotamī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca:Then Ānanda, having learned these eight principles of respect from the Buddha himself, went to Mahāpajāpati Gotamī and said:

21.1“Sace kho tvaṁ, gotami, aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇheyyāsi, sāva te bhavissati upasampadā—“Gotamī, if you accept eight principles of respect, that will be your ordination.

22.1Vassasatūpasampannāya bhikkhuniyā tadahūpasampannassa bhikkhuno abhivādanaṁ paccuṭṭhānaṁ añjalikammaṁ sāmīcikammaṁ kattabbaṁ.A nun, even if she has been ordained for a hundred years, should bow down to a monk who was ordained that very day. She should rise up for him, greet him with cupped palms, and observe proper etiquette toward him.22.2Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo …pe….This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts. …

23.1PTS 4.278Ajjatagge ovaṭo bhikkhunīnaṁ bhikkhūsu vacanapatho, anovaṭo bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīsu vacanapatho.From this day forth it is forbidden for nuns to criticize monks, but it is not forbidden for monks to criticize nuns.23.2Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.23.3Sace kho tvaṁ, gotami, ime aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇheyyāsi, sāva te bhavissati upasampadā”ti.If you accept these eight principles of respect, that will be your ordination.”

24.1“Seyyathāpi, bhante ānanda, itthī vā puriso vā daharo yuvā maṇḍanakajātiko sīsaṁnhāto uppalamālaṁ vā vassikamālaṁ vā adhimuttakamālaṁ vā labhitvā ubhohi hatthehi paṭiggahetvā uttamaṅge sirasmiṁ patiṭṭhāpeyya;“Ānanda, suppose there was a woman or man who was young, youthful, and fond of adornments, and had bathed their head. After getting a garland of lotuses, jasmine, or liana flowers, they would take them in both hands and place them on the crown of the head.24.2evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante ānanda, ime aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇhāmi yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīye”ti.In the same way, sir, I accept these eight principles of respect as not to be transgressed so long as life lasts.”

25.1Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

25.2“paṭiggahitā, bhante, mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā aṭṭha garudhammā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyā”ti.“Sir, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī has accepted the eight principles of respect as not to be transgressed so long as life lasts.”

26.1“Sace, ānanda, nālabhissa mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, ciraṭṭhitikaṁ, ānanda, brahmacariyaṁ abhavissa, vassasahassameva saddhammo tiṭṭheyya.∥“Ānanda, if ladies had not gained the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One, the spiritual life would have lasted long. The true teaching would have remained for a thousand years.26.2Yato ca kho, ānanda, mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito, na dāni, ānanda, brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ bhavissati.But since they have gained the going forth, now the spiritual life will not last long.26.3Pañceva dāni, ānanda, vassasatāni saddhammo ṭhassati.The true teaching will remain only five hundred years.

27.1Seyyathāpi, ānanda, yāni kānici kulāni bahutthikāni appapurisakāni, tāni suppadhaṁsiyāni honti corehi kumbhatthenakehi;It’s like those families with many women and few men. They’re easy prey for bandits and grain-jar thieves.27.2evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, yasmiṁ dhammavinaye labhati mātugāmo agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, na taṁ brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti.In the same way, the spiritual life does not last long in a teaching and training where ladies gain the going forth.

28.1PTS 4.279Seyyathāpi, ānanda, sampanne sālikkhette setaṭṭhikā nāma rogajāti nipatati, evaṁ taṁ sālikkhettaṁ na ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti;It’s like a field full of rice. Once the disease called ‘white bones’ attacks, it doesn’t last long.28.2evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, yasmiṁ dhammavinaye labhati mātugāmo agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, na taṁ brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti.In the same way, the spiritual life does not last long in a teaching and training where ladies gain the going forth.

29.1Seyyathāpi, ānanda, sampanne ucchukkhette mañjiṭṭhikā nāma rogajāti nipatati, evaṁ taṁ ucchukkhettaṁ na ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti;It’s like a field full of sugarcane. Once the disease called ‘red rot’ attacks, it doesn’t last long.29.2evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, yasmiṁ dhammavinaye labhati mātugāmo agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, na taṁ brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti.In the same way, the spiritual life does not last long in a teaching and training where ladies gain the going forth.

30.1Seyyathāpi, ānanda, puriso mahato taḷākassa paṭikacceva āḷiṁ bandheyya yāvadeva udakassa anatikkamanāya;As a man might build a dyke around a large lake as a precaution against the water overflowing,30.2evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, mayā paṭikacceva bhikkhunīnaṁ aṭṭha garudhammā paññattā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyā”ti.in the same way as a precaution I’ve prescribed the eight principles of respect as not to be transgressed so long as life lasts.”

30.3Paṭhamaṁ.