True DhammaLibrary · Community
Bi Ss 25 min read

2. Ordaining a criminal

Corīvuṭṭhāpikā

A nun who ordains a female criminal sentenced to death is to be suspended.

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

  • 0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
  • 0.2BhikkhunivibhaṅgaThe Nuns’ Analysis
  • 0.3SaṅghādisesakaṇḍaThe chapter on offenses entailing suspension

0.42. CorīvuṭṭhāpikāsikkhāpadaOrdaining a criminal

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 vesāliyaṁ aññatarassa licchavissa pajāpati aticārinī hoti.At that time in Vesālī the wife of a certain Licchavī man was unfaithful.1.3Atha kho so licchavi taṁ itthiṁ etadavoca—He said to her,1.4“sādhu viramāhi, anatthaṁ kho te karissāmī”ti.“Please stop. If you don’t, I’ll punish you.”1.5Evampi vuccamānā nādiyi.But she did not listen.

1.6Tena kho pana samayena vesāliyaṁ licchavigaṇo sannipatito hoti kenacideva karaṇīyena.Just then in Vesālī the Licchavī clan had gathered on some business.1.7Atha kho so licchavi te licchavayo etadavoca—That Licchavī man said to them,1.8“ekaṁ me, ayyo, itthiṁ anujānāthā”ti.“Sirs, please give me permission in regard to one of my wives.”

1.9“Kā nāma sā”ti?“What is it with her?”

1.10“Mayhaṁ pajāpati aticarati, taṁ ghātessāmī”ti.“She’s unfaithful. I wish to kill her.”

1.11“Jānāhī”ti.“You may go ahead.”1

1.12Assosi kho sā itthī—When his wife heard1.13“sāmiko kira maṁ ghātetukāmo”ti.that her husband wanted to kill her,1.14Varabhaṇḍaṁ ādāya sāvatthiṁ gantvā titthiye upasaṅkamitvā pabbajjaṁ yāci.she took their most valuable possessions and went to Sāvatthī. There she went to the monastics of other religions and asked for the going forth,1.15Titthiyā na icchiṁsu pabbājetuṁ.but they refused.1.16Bhikkhuniyo upasaṅkamitvā pabbajjaṁ yāci.She then went to the Buddhist nuns and again asked for the going forth,1.17Bhikkhuniyopi na icchiṁsu pabbājetuṁ.but they too refused.1.18Thullanandaṁ bhikkhuniṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhaṇḍakaṁ dassetvā pabbajjaṁ yāci.She then went to the nun Thullanandā, showed her the goods, and once again asked for the going forth.1.19Thullanandā bhikkhunī bhaṇḍakaṁ gahetvā pabbājesi.Thullanandā took the goods and gave her the going forth.

1.20Atha kho so licchavi taṁ itthiṁ gavesanto sāvatthiṁ gantvā bhikkhunīsu pabbajitaṁ disvāna yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami;That Licchavī man then went to Sāvatthī in search of his wife. When he saw that she had been given the going forth as a nun, he went to King Pasenadi of Kosala1.21PTS 4.226upasaṅkamitvā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca—and said,1.22“pajāpati me, deva, varabhaṇḍaṁ ādāya sāvatthiṁ anuppattā.“Sir, my wife took my most valuable possessions and came to Sāvatthī.1.23Taṁ devo anujānātū”ti.Please permit me to deal with her.”

1.24“Tena hi, bhaṇe, vicinitvā ācikkhā”ti.“Well then, find her and then inform me.”

1.25“Diṭṭhā, deva, bhikkhunīsu pabbajitā”ti.“I’ve seen her. She’s gone forth as a nun.”

1.26“Sace, bhaṇe, bhikkhunīsu pabbajitā, na sā labbhā kiñci kātuṁ.“If she’s gone forth as a nun, there’s nothing that can be done.1.27Svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, caratu brahmacariyaṁ sammā dukkhassa antakiriyāyā”ti.The Teaching of the Buddha is well-proclaimed. Let her practice the spiritual life for the full ending of suffering.”

1.28Atha kho so licchavi ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—Then that Licchavī man complained and criticized the nuns,1.29“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo coriṁ pabbājessantī”ti.“How could the nuns give the going forth to a criminal?”

1.30Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tassa licchavissa ujjhāyantassa khiyyantassa vipācentassa.The nuns heard the complaints of that Licchavī man,1.31Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,1.32“kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā coriṁ pabbājessatī”ti.“How could Venerable Thullanandā give the going forth to a criminal?”1.33Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…The nuns told the monks. …1.34“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī coriṁ pabbājetī”ti?“Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?”

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

1.36Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked her …1.37kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī coriṁ pabbājessati.“How could the nun Thullanandā give the going forth to a criminal?1.38Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.39evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

1.40.0Final ruling

1.40.1“Yā pana bhikkhunī jānaṁ coriṁ vajjhaṁ viditaṁ anapaloketvā rājānaṁ vā saṅghaṁ vā gaṇaṁ vā pūgaṁ vā seṇiṁ vā aññatra kappā vuṭṭhāpeyya, ayampi bhikkhunī paṭhamāpattikaṁ dhammaṁ āpannā nissāraṇīyaṁ saṅghādisesan”ti.‘If a nun, without getting permission from the king or the Sangha or a community or an association or a society, knowingly gives the full admission to a female criminal who is known as sentenced to death, then, except when it is allowable, that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.’”

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.
2.1.5Jānāti nāmaShe knows:
2.1.6sāmaṁ vā jānāti aññe vā tassā ārocenti, sā vā āroceti.she knows by herself or others have told her or she has told her.
2.1.7Corī nāmaA female criminal:
2.1.8yā pañcamāsakaṁ vā atirekapañcamāsakaṁ vā agghanakaṁ adinnaṁ theyyasaṅkhātaṁ ādiyati, esā corī nāma.any female who has stolen anything worth five <i lang='pi' translate='no'>māsaka</i> coins or more is called “a female criminal”.
2.1.9Vajjhā nāmaSentenced to death:
2.1.10yaṁ katvā vajjhappattā hoti.she has been sentenced to death because of her action.
2.1.11Viditā nāmaIs known:
2.1.12aññehi manussehi ñātā hoti “vajjhā esā”ti.it is known to other people that she has been sentenced to death.
2.1.13AnapaloketvātiWithout getting permission from:
2.1.14anāpucchā.without having asked permission.
2.1.15Rājā nāmaThe king:
2.1.16yattha rājā anusāsati, rājā apaloketabbo.where a king reigns, permission should be obtained from the king.
2.1.17Saṅgho nāmaThe Sangha:
2.1.18bhikkhunisaṅgho vuccati, bhikkhunisaṅgho apaloketabbo.what is meant is the Sangha of nuns, and permission should be obtained from that Sangha.
2.1.19Gaṇo nāmaA community:
2.1.20yattha gaṇo anusāsati, gaṇo apaloketabbo.where a community governs, permission should be obtained from that community.
2.1.21Pūgo nāmaAn association:
2.1.22yattha pūgo anusāsati, pūgo apaloketabbo.where an association governs, permission should be obtained from that association.
2.1.23Seṇi nāmaA society:
2.1.24yattha seṇi anusāsati, seṇi apaloketabbo.where a society governs, permission should be obtained from that society.
2.1.25PTS 4.227Aññatra kappātiExcept when it is allowable:
2.1.26ṭhapetvā kappaṁ.unless it is allowable.
2.1.27Kappaṁ nāmaAllowable:
2.1.28dve kappāni— titthiyesu vā pabbajitā hoti aññāsu vā bhikkhunīsu pabbajitā.there are two allowable situations: she has gone forth with monastics of another religion or she has gone forth with other Buddhist nuns.2.1.29Aññatra kappā “vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti gaṇaṁ vā ācariniṁ vā pattaṁ vā cīvaraṁ vā pariyesati, sīmaṁ vā sammannati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If, intending to give the full admission, she searches for a group, a teacher, a bowl, or a robe, or she establishes a monastery zone, then, except when it is allowable, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.1.30Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ.After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.22.1.31Dvīhi kammavācāhi thullaccayā.After each of the first two announcements, she commits a serious offense.2.1.32Kammavācāpariyosāne upajjhāyāya āpatti saṅghādisesassa.When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing suspension,2.1.33Gaṇassa ca ācariniyā ca āpatti dukkaṭassa.and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct.
2.1.34AyampītiThat too:
2.1.35purimaṁ upādāya vuccati.this is said with reference to the preceding offense.
2.1.36PaṭhamāpattikantiAn immediate offense:
2.1.37saha vatthujjhācārā āpajjati asamanubhāsanāya.there is an offense as soon as the misconduct is committed, and no pressing is required.
2.1.38NissāraṇīyantiEntailing sending away:
2.1.39saṅghamhā nissārīyati.she is sent away from the Sangha.
2.1.40SaṅghādisesantiSuspension:
2.1.41…pe… tenapi vuccati saṅghādisesoti.… Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension.

2.2.0Permutations

2.2.1Coriyā corisaññā aññatra kappā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti saṅghādisesassa.If she is a criminal, and the nun perceives her as such, and she gives her the full admission, except when it is allowable, she commits an offense entailing suspension.2.2.2Coriyā vematikā aññatra kappā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is a criminal, but the nun is unsure of it, and she gives her the full admission, except when it is allowable, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.3Coriyā acorisaññā aññatra kappā vuṭṭhāpeti, anāpatti.If she is a criminal, but the nun does not perceive her as such, and she gives her the full admission, except when it is allowable, there is no offense.

2.2.4Acoriyā corisaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is not a criminal, but the nun perceives her as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.5Acoriyā vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is not a criminal, but the nun is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.6Acoriyā acorisaññā, anāpatti.If she is not a criminal, and the nun does not perceive her as such, there is no offense.

2.3.0Non-offenses

2.3.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.3.2ajānantī vuṭṭhāpeti,if she gives her the full admission without knowing that she is a criminal; 2.3.3apaloketvā vuṭṭhāpeti,if she gives her the full admission after getting permission; 2.3.4kappakataṁ vuṭṭhāpeti,if she gives her the full admission when it is allowable; 2.3.5ummattikāya,if she is insane; 2.3.6ādikammikāyāti.if she is the first offender.

2.3.7Dutiyasaṅghādisesasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.The second offense entailing suspension is finished.

Translator’s notes

  1. Jānāhi, literally, “You know.” The implied meaning is not clear. However, in commenting on a different passage, one of the sub-commentaries, Sp-ṭ 4.330, defines the word as follows: Jānāhīti cettha paṭipajjāti attho veditabbo, “Jānāhi: and here the meaning ‘undertake’ should be understood.”

    ↩ pli-tv-bi-vb-ss2:1.11

  2. The Pali just says dukkaṭa, without specifying that it is an āpatti, “an offense”. Yet elsewhere, such as at Bu Ss 10:2.65, the dukkaṭa is annulled if you commit the full offense of saṅghādisesa. The implication is that in these contexts dukkaṭa should be read as āpatti dukkaṭassa, “an offense of wrong conduct”.

    ↩ pli-tv-bi-vb-ss2:2.1.30