1.0Origin story

1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.1.2Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpenti.At that time the nuns were giving the full admission to trainee nuns who had trained for two years in the six rules, but who had not been approved by the Sangha.1.3Bhikkhuniyo evamāhaṁsu—The nuns said,1.4“etha, sikkhamānā, imaṁ jānātha, imaṁ detha, imaṁ āharatha, iminā attho, imaṁ kappiyaṁ karothā”ti.“Come, trainee nuns, find out about this,” “Give this,” “Bring this,” “There’s need for this,” or “Make this allowable.”1.5Tā evamāhaṁsu—But they replied,1.6“na mayaṁ, ayye, sikkhamānā, bhikkhuniyo mayan”ti.“Venerables, we’re not trainee nuns. We’re nuns.”

1.7Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,1.8“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe…“How can nuns give the full admission to trainee nuns who have trained for two years in the six rules, but who haven’t been approved by the Sangha?” …1.9“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpentī”ti?“Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?”

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

1.11Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.12kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpessanti.“How can nuns do this?1.13Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …”1.14vigarahitvā …pe…After rebuking them …1.15dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

1.16“anujānāmi, bhikkhave, dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ dātuṁ.“Monks, approval is required for the full admission of a trainee nun who has trained for two years in the six rules.

1.17Evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā.And it should be given like this.

1.18Tāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya saṅghaṁ upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā bhikkhunīnaṁ pāde vanditvā ukkuṭikaṁ nisīditvā añjaliṁ paggahetvā evamassa vacanīyo—After approaching the Sangha of nuns, that trainee nun should arrange her upper robe over one shoulder and pay respect at the feet of the nuns. She should then squat on her heels, raise her joined palms, and say:

1.20Dutiyampi yācitabbā.And she should ask a second1.21Tatiyampi yācitabbā.and a third time.

1.22Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—A competent and capable nun should then inform the Sangha:

1.34Atha kho bhagavā tā bhikkhuniyo anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā dubbharatāya …pe…Then, after rebuking those nuns in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support …1.35evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: