1.0.1Origin story

1.0.2First substory

1.1PTS 4.56Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu,1.2Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovadanti.the monks from the group of six went to the nunnery and instructed the nuns from the group of six.¹

1.3Bhikkhuniyo chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo etadavocuṁ—Soon afterwards, other nuns said to the nuns from the group of six,1.4“ethāyye, ovādaṁ gamissāmā”ti.“Come, venerables, let’s go to the instruction.”

1.5“Yampi mayaṁ, ayye, gaccheyyāma ovādassa kāraṇā, ayyā chabbaggiyā idheva āgantvā amhe ovadantī”ti.“There’s no need. The monks from the group of six came and instructed us right here.”

1.6Bhikkhuniyo ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The nuns complained and criticized the monks from the group of six,1.7“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī”ti.“How could the monks from the group of six go to the nunnery and instruct the nuns?”1.8Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.Then those nuns told the monks.

1.9Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks,1.10“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī”ti …pe…“How could those monks do this?”…1.11“saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadathā”ti?“Is it true, monks, that you did this?”

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

1.13Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.14kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissatha.“Foolish men, how could you do this?1.15Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.16evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

1.17.0Preliminary ruling

1.17.1“Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadeyya, pācittiyan”ti.‘If a monk goes to a nunnery and instructs the nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

1.18Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

2.0Second substory

2.1Tena kho pana samayena mahāpajāpati gotamī gilānā hoti.Soon afterwards Mahāpajāpati Gotamī became sick.2.2Therā bhikkhū yena mahāpajāpati gotamī tenupasaṅkamiṁsu;The senior monks went to see her2.3upasaṅkamitvā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavocuṁ—“and said,2.4kacci, gotami, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyan”ti?“We hope you’re bearing up, Gotamī, we hope you’re getting better?”

2.5“Na me, ayyā, khamanīyaṁ na yāpanīyaṁ”.“I’m not bearing up, venerables, and I’m not getting better.2.6“Iṅghayyā, dhammaṁ desethā”ti.Please give me a teaching.”

2.7“Na, bhagini, kappati bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo dhammaṁ desetun”ti kukkuccāyantā na desesuṁ.“It’s not allowable for us to go a nunnery and teach the nuns.” And being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not teach her.

2.8Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena mahāpajāpati gotamī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.Soon afterwards, after robing up in the morning, the Buddha took his bowl and robe and went to Mahāpajāpati Gotamī where he sat down on the prepared seat.2.9Nisajja kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca—He said to her,2.10“kacci, gotami, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyan”ti?“I hope you’re bearing up, Gotamī, I hope you’re getting better?”

2.11“Pubbe me, bhante, therā bhikkhū āgantvā dhammaṁ desenti.“Previously, sir, the senior monks would come and teach me,2.12Tena me phāsu hoti.and because of that I would be comfortable.2.13Idāni pana—‘bhagavatā paṭikkhittan’ti, kukkuccāyantā na desenti.But now that this has been prohibited by the Buddha, they don’t teach because they’re afraid of wrongdoing.2.14Tena me na phāsu hotī”ti.Because of that I’m not comfortable.”

2.15Atha kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.After instructing, inspiring, and gladdening her with a teaching, the Buddha got up from his seat and left.2.16Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

2.17“anujānāmi, bhikkhave, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā gilānaṁ bhikkhuniṁ ovadituṁ.“Monks, I allow you to go a nunnery and instruct a sick nun.

2.18Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: