0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
0.2MahāvibhaṅgaThe Great Analysis
0.3AniyatakaṇḍaThe chapter on undetermined offenses

0.41. PaṭhamaaniyatasikkhāpadaSitting with a woman in a concealed place

0.5PTS 3.187Ime kho panāyasmanto dve aniyatā dhammā uddesaṁ āgacchanti.Venerables, these two undetermined rules come up for recitation.

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 āyasmā udāyī sāvatthiyaṁ kulūpako hoti, bahukāni kulāni upasaṅkamati.At that time Venerable Udāyī was associating with and visiting a number of families in Sāvatthī.1.3Tena kho pana samayena āyasmato udāyissa upaṭṭhākakulassa kumārikā aññatarassa kulassa kumārakassa dinnā hoti.On one occasion one of the families that supported him gave their daughter in marriage to the son of another family.1.4Atha kho āyasmā udāyī pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena taṁ kulaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā manusse pucchi—Soon afterwards Venerable Udāyī robed up in the morning, took his bowl and robe, and went to the first of those families. When he arrived, he asked1.5“kahaṁ itthannāmā”ti?where the daughter was,1.6Te evamāhaṁsu—and he was told1.7“dinnā, bhante, amukassa kulassa kumārakassā”ti.that she had been given to another family.1.8Tampi kho kulaṁ āyasmato udāyissa upaṭṭhākaṁ hoti.That family too supported Udāyī.1.9Atha kho āyasmā udāyī yena taṁ kulaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā manusse pucchi—He then went there and again asked1.10“kahaṁ itthannāmā”ti?where the girl was.1.11Te evamāhaṁsu—They said,1.12“esāyya, ovarake nisinnā”ti.“She’s sitting in her room.”1.13Atha kho āyasmā udāyī yena sā kumārikā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tassā kumārikāya saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho paṭicchanne āsane alaṅkammaniye nisajjaṁ kappesi kālayuttaṁ samullapanto kālayuttaṁ dhammaṁ bhaṇanto.He went up to that girl, and the two of them sat down alone in private on a concealed seat suitable for the deed. When they were able, they chatted; otherwise he gave her a teaching.¹

1.14PTS 3.188Tena kho pana samayena visākhā migāramātā bahuputtā hoti bahunattā arogaputtā aroganattā abhimaṅgalasammatā.At that time Visākhā Migāramātā had many healthy children and grandchildren. As a consequence, she was considered auspicious.1.15Manussā yaññesu chaṇesu ussavesu visākhaṁ migāramātaraṁ paṭhamaṁ bhojenti.At sacrifices, ceremonies, and celebrations people would feed Visākhā first.1.16Atha kho visākhā migāramātā nimantitā taṁ kulaṁ agamāsi.Just then she had been invited to that family that supported Udāyī.1.17Addasā kho visākhā migāramātā āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ tassā kumārikāya saddhiṁ ekaṁ ekāya raho paṭicchanne āsane alaṅkammaniye nisinnaṁ.When she arrived, she saw him sitting alone with that girl,1.18Disvāna āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca—and she said to him,1.19“idaṁ, bhante, nacchannaṁ nappatirūpaṁ yaṁ ayyo mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho paṭicchanne āsane alaṅkammaniye nisajjaṁ kappeti.“Venerable, it’s not appropriate for you to sit down in private alone with a woman on a concealed seat suitable for the deed.1.20Kiñcāpi, bhante, ayyo anatthiko tena dhammena, api ca dussaddhāpayā appasannā manussā”ti.You may not be aiming at that act, but it’s hard to convince people with little confidence.”1.21Evampi kho āyasmā udāyī visākhāya migāramātuyā vuccamāno nādiyi.But Udāyī did not listen.1.22Atha kho visākhā migāramātā nikkhamitvā bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi.After leaving, Visākhā told the monks what had happened.1.23Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The monks of few desires complained and criticized him,1.24“kathañhi nāma āyasmā udāyī mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho paṭicchanne āsane alaṅkammaniye nisajjaṁ kappessatī”ti.“How could Venerable Udāyī sit down in private alone with a woman on a concealed seat suitable for the deed?”

1.25Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…After rebuking Udāyī in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Udāyī:1.26“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, udāyi, mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho paṭicchanne āsane alaṅkammaniye nisajjaṁ kappesī”ti?“Is it true, Udāyī, that you did this?”

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

1.28Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked him …1.29kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho paṭicchanne āsane alaṅkammaniye nisajjaṁ kappessasi.“Foolish man, how could you do this?1.30Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.31evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

1.32.0Final ruling

1.32.1“Yo pana bhikkhu mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho paṭicchanne āsane alaṅkammaniye nisajjaṁ kappeyya, tamenaṁ saddheyyavacasā upāsikā disvā‘If a monk sits down in private alone with a woman on a concealed seat suitable for the deed, and a trustworthy female lay follower sees him1.33tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ aññatarena vadeyya—pārājikena vā saṅghādisesena vā pācittiyena vā.and accuses him of an offense entailing expulsion, an offense entailing suspension, or an offense entailing confession,1.34Nisajjaṁ bhikkhu paṭijānamāno tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ aññatarena kāretabbo—pārājikena vā saṅghādisesena vā pācittiyena vā.then, if he admits to the sitting, he is to be dealt with according to one of these three 1.35Yena vā sā saddheyyavacasā upāsikā vadeyya, tena so bhikkhu kāretabbo.or according to what that trustworthy female lay follower has said.1.36Ayaṁ dhammo aniyato”ti.This rule is undetermined.’”

2.1.0Definitions

2.1.1Yo panātiA:

2.1.2yo yādiso …pe…whoever …

2.1.3bhikkhūtiMonk:

2.1.4…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.

2.1.5Mātugāmo nāmaA woman:

2.1.6manussitthī, na yakkhī na petī na tiracchānagatā. Antamaso tadahujātāpi dārikā, pageva mahattarī.a human female, not a female spirit, not a female ghost, not a female animal; even a girl born on that very day, let alone an older one.

2.1.7SaddhintiWith:

2.1.8ekato.together.

2.1.9Eko ekāyātiAlone:

2.1.10bhikkhu ceva hoti mātugāmo ca.just the monk and the woman.

2.1.11Raho nāmaIn private:

2.1.12cakkhussa raho, sotassa raho.private to the eye and private to the ear.

2.1.13Cakkhussa raho nāmaPrivate to the eye:

2.1.14na sakkā hoti akkhiṁ vā nikhaṇīyamāne bhamukaṁ vā ukkhipīyamāne sīsaṁ vā ukkhipīyamāne passituṁ.one is unable to see them winking, raising an eyebrow, or nodding.

2.1.15Sotassa raho nāmaPrivate to the ear:

2.1.16na sakkā hoti pakatikathā sotuṁ.one is unable to hear ordinary speech.

2.1.17PTS 3.189Paṭicchannaṁ nāmaConcealed seat:

2.1.18āsanaṁ kuṭṭena vā kavāṭena vā kilañjena vā sāṇipākārena vā rukkhena vā thambhena vā kotthaḷiyā vā yena kenaci paṭicchannaṁ hoti.it is concealed by a wall, a screen, a door, a cloth screen, a tree, a pillar, a grain container, or anything else.

2.1.19AlaṅkammaniyetiSuitable for the deed:

2.1.20sakkā hoti methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevituṁ.one is able to have sexual intercourse.

2.1.21Nisajjaṁ kappeyyātiSits down:

2.1.22mātugāme nisinne bhikkhu upanisinno vā hoti upanipanno vā.the monk sits down or lies down next to the seated woman.2.1.23Bhikkhu nisinne mātugāmo upanisinno vā hoti upanipanno vā.The woman sits down or lies down next to the seated monk.2.1.24Ubho vā nisinnā honti ubho vā nipannā.Both are seated or both are lying down.

2.1.25Saddheyyavacasā nāmaTrustworthy:

2.1.26āgataphalā abhisametāvinī viññātasāsanā.she has attained the fruit, she has broken through, she has understood the instruction.

2.1.27Upāsikā nāmaFemale lay follower:

2.1.28buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā.she has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the Teaching, and the Sangha.

2.1.29DisvātiSees:

2.1.30passitvā.having seen.

2.2.1Tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ aññatarena vadeyya— pārājikena vā saṅghādisesena vā pācittiyena vā.If she accuses him of an offense entailing expulsion, an offense entailing suspension, or an offense entailing confession,2.2.2Nisajjaṁ bhikkhu paṭijānamāno tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ aññatarena kāretabbo— pārājikena vā saṅghādisesena vā pācittiyena vā.then, if he admits to the sitting, he is to be dealt with according to one of these three2.2.3Yena vā sā saddheyyavacasā upāsikā vadeyya tena so bhikkhu kāretabbo.or according to what that trustworthy female lay follower has said:

2.2.4Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.5“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nisinno mātugāmassa methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevanto”ti,“I’ve seen you seated, having sexual intercourse with a woman,”2.2.6so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense.2.2.7Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.8“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nisinno mātugāmassa methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevanto”ti,“I’ve seen you seated, having sexual intercourse with a woman,”2.2.9so ce evaṁ vadeyya—but he says,2.2.10“saccāhaṁ nisinno, no ca kho methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevin”ti,“It’s true that I was seated, but I didn’t have sexual intercourse,”2.2.11nisajjāya kāretabbo.then he is to be dealt with for the sitting.2.2.12Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.13“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nisinno mātugāmassa methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevanto”ti,“I’ve seen you seated, having sexual intercourse with a woman,”2.2.14so ce evaṁ vadeyya—but he says,2.2.15“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho nipanno”ti,“I wasn’t seated, but lying down,”2.2.16nipajjāya kāretabbo.then he is to be dealt with for the lying down.2.2.17Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.18“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nisinno mātugāmassa methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevanto”ti,“I’ve seen you seated, having sexual intercourse with a woman,”2.2.19so ce evaṁ vadeyya—but he says,2.2.20“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho ṭhito”ti,“I wasn’t seated, but standing,”2.2.21na kāretabbo.then he is not to be dealt with.

2.2.22PTS 3.190Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.23“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nipanno mātugāmassa methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevanto”ti,“I’ve seen you lying down, having sexual intercourse with a woman,”2.2.24so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense.2.2.25Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.26“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nipanno mātugāmassa methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevanto”ti,“I’ve seen you lying down, having sexual intercourse with a woman,”2.2.27so ce evaṁ vadeyya—but he says,2.2.28“saccāhaṁ nipanno, no ca kho methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevin”ti,“It’s true that I was lying down, but I didn’t have sexual intercourse,”2.2.29nipajjāya kāretabbo.then he is to be dealt with for the lying down.2.2.30Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.31“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nipanno mātugāmassa methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevanto”ti,“I’ve seen you lying down, having sexual intercourse with a woman,”2.2.32so ce evaṁ vadeyya—but he says,2.2.33“nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho nisinno”ti,“I wasn’t lying down, but seated,”2.2.34nisajjāya kāretabbo.then he is to be dealt with for the sitting.2.2.35Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.36“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nipanno mātugāmassa methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevanto”ti,“I’ve seen you lying down, having sexual intercourse with a woman,”2.2.37so ce evaṁ vadeyya—but he says,2.2.38“nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho ṭhito”ti,“I wasn’t lying down, but standing,”2.2.39na kāretabbo.then he is not to be dealt with.

2.2.40Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.41“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nisinno mātugāmena saddhiṁ kāyasaṁsaggaṁ samāpajjanto”ti,“I’ve seen you seated, making physical contact with a woman,”2.2.42so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo …pe…and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense. …2.2.43“saccāhaṁ nisinno no ca kho kāyasaṁsaggaṁ samāpajjin”ti,“It’s true that I was seated, but I didn’t make physical contact,”2.2.44nisajjāya kāretabbo …pe…then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. …2.2.45“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho nipanno”ti,“I wasn’t seated, but lying down,”2.2.46nipajjāya kāretabbo …pe…then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. …2.2.47“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho ṭhito”ti,“I wasn’t seated, but standing,”2.2.48na kāretabbo.then he is not to be dealt with.

2.2.49Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.50“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nipanno mātugāmena saddhiṁ kāyasaṁsaggaṁ samāpajjanto”ti,“I’ve seen you lying down, making physical contact with a woman,”2.2.51so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo …pe…and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense. …2.2.52“saccāhaṁ nipanno, no ca kho kāyasaṁsaggaṁ samāpajjin”ti,“It’s true that I was lying down, but I didn’t make physical contact,”2.2.53nipajjāya kāretabbo …pe…then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. …2.2.54“nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho nisinno”ti,“I wasn’t lying down, but seated,”2.2.55nisajjāya kāretabbo …pe…then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. …2.2.56“nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho ṭhito”ti,“I wasn’t lying down, but standing,”2.2.57na kāretabbo.then he is not to be dealt with.

2.2.58Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.59“ayyo mayā diṭṭho mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho paṭicchanne āsane alaṅkammaniye nisinno”ti,“I’ve seen you seated in private alone with a woman on a concealed seat suitable for the deed,”2.2.60so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, nisajjāya kāretabbo …pe…and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. …2.2.61“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho nipanno”ti,“I wasn’t seated, but lying down,”2.2.62nipajjāya kāretabbo …pe…then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. …2.2.63“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho ṭhito”ti,“I wasn’t seated, but standing,”2.2.64na kāretabbo.then he is not to be dealt with.

2.2.65Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—If she accuses him like this:2.2.66“ayyo mayā diṭṭho mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho paṭicchanne āsane alaṅkammaniye nipanno”ti,“I’ve seen you lying down in private alone with a woman on a concealed seat suitable for the deed,”2.2.67so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, nipajjāya kāretabbo …pe…and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. …2.2.68“nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho nisinno”ti,“I wasn’t lying down, but seated,”2.2.69nisajjāya kāretabbo …pe…then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. …2.2.70“nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho ṭhito”ti,“I wasn’t lying down, but standing,”2.2.71na kāretabbo.then he is not to be dealt with.

2.2.72AniyatotiUndetermined:

2.2.73na niyato, pārājikaṁ vā saṅghādiseso vā pācittiyaṁ vā.not determined. It is either an offense entailing expulsion, an offense entailing suspension, or an offense entailing confession.

3.0Permutations

3.1Gamanaṁ paṭijānāti, nisajjaṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.If he admits to going, and he admits to sitting, and he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense.3.2Gamanaṁ paṭijānāti, nisajjaṁ na paṭijānāti, āpattiṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.If he admits to going, but he does not admit to sitting, yet he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense.3.3Gamanaṁ paṭijānāti, nisajjaṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiṁ na paṭijānāti, nisajjāya kāretabbo.If he admits to going, and he admits to sitting, but he does not admit to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the sitting.3.4Gamanaṁ paṭijānāti, nisajjaṁ na paṭijānāti, āpattiṁ na paṭijānāti, na kāretabbo.If he admits to going, but he does not admit to sitting, nor does he admit to an offense, he is not to be dealt with.

3.5PTS 3.191Gamanaṁ na paṭijānāti, nisajjaṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.If he does not admit to going, but he admits to sitting, and he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense.3.6Gamanaṁ na paṭijānāti, nisajjaṁ na paṭijānāti, āpattiṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.If he does not admit to going, nor does he admit to sitting, but he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense.3.7Gamanaṁ na paṭijānāti, nisajjaṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiṁ na paṭijānāti, nisajjāya kāretabbo.If he does not admit to going, but he admits to sitting, yet he does not admit to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the sitting.3.8Gamanaṁ na paṭijānāti, nisajjaṁ na paṭijānāti, āpattiṁ na paṭijānāti, na kāretabboti.If he does not admit to going, nor does he admit to sitting, nor does he admit to an offense, he is not to be dealt with.

3.9Paṭhamo aniyato niṭṭhito.The first undetermined offense on sitting with a woman in a concealed place is finished.

1. Sitting with a woman in a concealed place