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4. Having a nun wash a used robe

Purāṇacīvara

A monk who makes a nun wash or dye a used robe must relinquish the robe and confess the offense.

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

  • 0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
  • 0.2MahāvibhaṅgaThe Great Analysis
  • 0.3NissaggiyakaṇḍaThe chapter on relinquishment
  • 0.4CīvaravaggaThe subchapter on robes

0.54. PurāṇacīvarasikkhāpadaHaving a nun wash a used robe

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 āyasmato udāyissa purāṇadutiyikā bhikkhunīsu pabbajitā hoti.Venerable Udāyī’s ex-wife became a nun.1.3Sā āyasmato udāyissa santike abhikkhaṇaṁ āgacchati.She frequently visited Udāyī,1.4Āyasmāpi udāyī tassā bhikkhuniyā santike abhikkhaṇaṁ gacchati.and he frequently visited her.1.5Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā udāyī tassā bhikkhuniyā santike bhattavissaggaṁ karoti.And Udāyī shared his meals with that nun.

1.6PTS 3.206Atha kho āyasmā udāyī pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena sā bhikkhunī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tassā bhikkhuniyā purato aṅgajātaṁ vivaritvā āsane nisīdi.One morning Udāyī robed up, took his bowl and robe, and went to her. He then uncovered his genitals in front of her and sat down on a seat.1.7Sāpi kho bhikkhunī āyasmato udāyissa purato aṅgajātaṁ vivaritvā āsane nisīdi.She too uncovered her genitals in front of him and sat down on a seat.1.8Atha kho āyasmā udāyī sāratto tassā bhikkhuniyā aṅgajātaṁ upanijjhāyi. Tassa asuci mucci.Lustfully staring at her genitals, he emitted semen.

1.9Atha kho āyasmā udāyī taṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—He then said to that nun:1.10“gaccha, bhagini, udakaṁ āhara, antaravāsakaṁ dhovissāmī”ti.“Sister, get some water. I’ll wash the robe.”

1.11“Āharayya, ahameva dhovissāmī”ti“Give it to me, venerable, I’ll wash it.”

1.12taṁ asuciṁ ekadesaṁ mukhena aggahesi ekadesaṁ aṅgajāte pakkhipi.She then took some of the semen in her mouth and inserted some into her vagina.1.13Sā tena gabbhaṁ gaṇhi.Because of that she became pregnant.1.14Bhikkhuniyo evamāhaṁsu—The nuns said,1.15“abrahmacārinī ayaṁ bhikkhunī, gabbhinī”ti.“This nun doesn’t abstain from sex. She’s pregnant.”

1.16“Nāhaṁ, ayye, abrahmacārinī”ti bhikkhunīnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi.She said, “Venerables, I do abstain from sex,” and she told them what had happened.

1.17Bhikkhuniyo ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The nuns complained and criticized Udāyī,1.18“kathañhi nāma ayyo udāyī bhikkhuniyā purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpessatī”ti.“How could Venerable Udāyī get a nun to wash a used robe?”1.19Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.They then told the monks.1.20Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The monks of few desires complained and criticized him,1.21“kathañhi nāma āyasmā udāyī bhikkhuniyā purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpessatī”ti.“How could Venerable Udāyī get a nun to wash a used robe?”

1.22Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…After rebuking him in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Udāyī:1.23“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, udāyi, bhikkhuniyā purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpesī”ti?“Is it true, Udāyī, that you did this?”

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

1.25“Ñātikā te, udāyi, aññātikā”ti?“Is she a relative of yours?”

1.26“Aññātikā, bhagavā”ti.“No.”

1.27“Aññātako, moghapurisa, aññātikāya na jānāti patirūpaṁ vā appatirūpaṁ vā pāsādikaṁ vā apāsādikaṁ vā.“Foolish man, a man and a woman who are unrelated don’t know what’s appropriate and inappropriate, what’s inspiring and uninspiring, in dealing with each other.1.28Tattha nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, aññātikāya bhikkhuniyā purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpessasi.And still you did this.1.29Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.30evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

1.31.0Final ruling

1.31.1“Yo pana bhikkhu aññātikāya bhikkhuniyā purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeyya vā rajāpeyya vā ākoṭāpeyya vā, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyan”ti.‘If a monk has an unrelated nun wash, dye, or beat a used robe, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

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.
2.1.5Aññātikā nāmaUnrelated:
2.1.6mātito vā pitito vā yāva sattamā pitāmahayugā asambaddhā.anyone who is not a descendant of one’s male ancestors going back eight generations, either on the mother’s side or on the father’s side.1
2.1.7Bhikkhunī nāmaA nun:
2.1.8ubhatosaṅghe upasampannā.she has been given the full ordination by both Sanghas.
2.1.9Purāṇacīvaraṁ nāmaA used robe:
2.1.10sakiṁ nivatthampi sakiṁ pārutampi.a sarong or an upper robe, even worn once.

2.1.11Dhovāti āṇāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he tells her to wash it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.1.12Dhotaṁ nissaggiyaṁ hoti.When it has been washed, it becomes subject to relinquishment.2.1.13Rajāti āṇāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he tells her to dye it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.1.14Rattaṁ nissaggiyaṁ hoti.When it has been dyed, it becomes subject to relinquishment.2.1.15Ākoṭehīti āṇāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he tells her to beat it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.1.16Sakiṁ pāṇippahāraṁ vā muggarappahāraṁ vā dinne nissaggiyaṁ hoti.When she has struck it once with her hand or with an implement, it becomes subject to relinquishment.

2.1.17Nissajjitabbaṁ saṅghassa vā gaṇassa vā puggalassa vā.The robe should be relinquished to a sangha, a group, or an individual.2.1.18Evañca pana, bhikkhave, nissajjitabbaṁ.“And, monks, it should be relinquished like this. …”2.1.19…pe…(To be expanded as in <a href='https://suttacentral.net/pli-tv-bu-vb-np1#3.2.5'>Bu NP 1:3.2.5</a>–3.2.29, with appropriate substitutions.)

2.1.20idaṁ me, bhante, purāṇacīvaraṁ aññātikāya bhikkhuniyā dhovāpitaṁ nissaggiyaṁ.“Venerables, this used robe, which I got an unrelated nun to wash, is to be relinquished.2.1.21Imāhaṁ saṅghassa nissajjāmīti …pe…I relinquish it to the Sangha.” …2.1.22dadeyyāti …pe…“the Sangha should give …”2.1.23dadeyyunti …pe…“you should give …”2.1.24āyasmato dammīti.“I give this robe back to you.”

2.2.0Permutations

2.2.1PTS 3.207Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and confession.2.2.2Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeti rajāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her wash and dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct.2.2.3Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeti ākoṭāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her wash and beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct.2.2.4Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeti rajāpeti ākoṭāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dvinnaṁ dukkaṭānaṁ.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her wash, dye, and beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and two offenses of wrong conduct.

2.2.5Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ rajāpeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and confession.2.2.6Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ rajāpeti ākoṭāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her dye and beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct.2.2.7Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ rajāpeti dhovāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her dye and wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct.2.2.8Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ rajāpeti ākoṭāpeti dhovāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dvinnaṁ dukkaṭānaṁ.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her dye, beat, and wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and two offenses of wrong conduct.

2.2.9Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ ākoṭāpeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and confession.2.2.10Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ ākoṭāpeti dhovāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her beat and wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct.2.2.11Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ ākoṭāpeti rajāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her beat and dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct.2.2.12Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ ākoṭāpeti dhovāpeti rajāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dvinnaṁ dukkaṭānaṁ.If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her beat, wash, and dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and two offenses of wrong conduct.

2.2.13Aññātikāya vematiko …pe…If she is unrelated, but he is unsure of it …22.2.14aññātikāya ñātikasaññī …pe…If she is unrelated, but he perceives her as related …

2.2.15aññassa purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he has her wash a used robe belonging to someone else, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.16Nisīdanapaccattharaṇaṁ dhovāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he has her wash a sitting mat or a sheet, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.17Ekatoupasampannāya dhovāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he has a nun who is fully ordained only on one side do the washing, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

2.2.18Ñātikāya aññātikasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is related, but he perceives her as unrelated, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.19Ñātikāya vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is related, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.20Ñātikāya ñātikasaññī, anāpatti.If she is related and he perceives her as such, there is no offense.

2.2.21.0Non-offenses

2.2.21.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.2.22ñātikāya dhovantiyā aññātikā dutiyā hoti,if a related nun does the washing and an unrelated nun helps her;2.2.23avuttā dhovati,if a nun does the washing without being asked;2.2.24aparibhuttaṁ dhovāpeti,if he has a nun wash an unused robe;2.2.25cīvaraṁ ṭhapetvā aññaṁ parikkhāraṁ dhovāpeti,if he has a nun wash any requisite apart from a robe;2.2.26sikkhamānāya,if it is a trainee nun;2.2.27sāmaṇeriyā,if it is a novice nun;2.2.28ummattakassa,if he is insane;2.2.29ādikammikassāti.if he is the first offender.

2.2.30Purāṇacīvarasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.The training rule on having a nun wash a used robe, the fourth, is finished.

Translator’s notes

  1. Sp 1.505: Tattha yāva sattamā pitāmahayugāti pitupitā pitāmaho, pitāmahassa yugaṁ pitāmahayugaṁ, “In this yāva sattamā pitāmahayuga means: the father of a father is a grandfather. The generation of a grandfather is called a pitāmahayuga.” So the Pali phrase yāva sattamā pitāmahayuga means “as far as the seventh generation of grandfathers”, that is, eight generations back. This can be counted as follows: (1) one’s grandfather; (2) his father; (3) 2’s father; (4) 3’s father; (5) 4’s father; (6) 5’s father; and (7) 6’s father. This applies to both one’s paternal and maternal grandfathers. This gives a total of 14 ancestors. Anyone who is a descendent of these fourteen is considered a relative. Anyone who is not such a descendent is not regarded as a relative.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-np4:2.1.6

  2. Sp 1.506: Aññātikāya vematiko aññātikāya ñātikasaññīti imānipi padāni vuttānaṁyeva tiṇṇaṁ catukkānaṁ vasena vitthārato veditabbāni, “‘If she is unrelated, but he is unsure of it; if she is unrelated, but he perceives her as related’: these sentences should be understood in detail just as the stated three tetrads (above).”

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-np4:2.2.13