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Bi Pc 201 min read

20. Crying and beating oneself

Rodana

A nun who cries and beats herself must confess the offense.

Translated by Bhikkhu Brahmali · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
  • 0.2BhikkhunivibhaṅgaThe Nuns’ Analysis
  • 0.3PācittiyakaṇḍaThe chapter on offenses entailing confession
  • 0.4RattandhakāravaggaThe subchapter on the dark of the night

0.520. RodanasikkhāpadaCrying and beating oneself

1.0Origin story

1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,1.2Tena kho pana samayena caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ bhaṇḍitvā attānaṁ vadhitvā vadhitvā rodati.the nun Caṇḍakāḷī quarreled with the nuns and then cried after repeatedly beating herself.1.3Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,1.4“kathañhi nāma ayyā caṇḍakāḷī attānaṁ vadhitvā vadhitvā rodissatī”ti …pe…“How could Venerable Caṇḍakāḷī cry after repeatedly beating herself?” …1.5“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī attānaṁ vadhitvā vadhitvā rodatī”ti?“Is it true, monks, that the nun Caṇḍakāḷī did this?”

1.6“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.“It’s true, sir.”

1.7Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked her …1.8kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī attānaṁ vadhitvā vadhitvā rodissati.“How could the nun Caṇḍakāḷī act like this?1.9Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.10evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

1.11.0Final ruling

1.11.1“Yā pana bhikkhunī attānaṁ vadhitvā vadhitvā rodeyya, pācittiyan”ti.‘If a nun cries after repeatedly beating herself, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

2.1.0Definitions

2.1.1Yā panātiA:
2.1.2yā yādisā …pe…whoever …
2.1.3bhikkhunītiNun:
2.1.4…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.… The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case.
2.1.5AttānantiHerself:
2.1.6paccattaṁ.oneself.

2.1.7Vadhitvā vadhitvā rodati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If she cries after repeatedly beating herself, she commits an offense entailing confession. 2.1.8Vadhati na rodati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she beats herself, but does not cry, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. 2.1.9Rodati na vadhati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she cries, but does not beat herself, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

2.2.0Non-offenses

2.2.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.2.2ñātibyasanena vā bhogabyasanena vā rogabyasanena vā phuṭṭhā rodati na vadhati,if she cries, but does not beat herself, because of loss of relatives, loss of property, or loss of health; 2.2.3ummattikāya,if she is insane; 2.2.4ādikammikāyāti.if she is the first offender.

2.2.5Dasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.The tenth training rule is finished.

2.2.6Andhakāravaggo dutiyo.The second subchapter on the dark of the night is finished.