Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
The Nuns’ Analysis
Tip — double-click any Pāli word to look it up in the dictionary.
Tena samayena buddho bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
At one time the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrel sanctuary.
Tena kho pana samayena rājagahe giraggasamajjo hoti.
At that time in Rājagaha there was a hilltop fair,
Chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo giraggasamajjaṁ dassanāya agamaṁsu.
and the nuns from the group of six went to see it.
“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo naccampi gītampi vāditampi dassanāya gacchissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.
“How can nuns go to see dancing, singing, and music? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”
Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ.
The nuns heard the complaints of those people,
Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,
“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo naccampi gītampi vāditampi dassanāya gacchissantī”ti …pe…
“How could the nuns from the group of six go to see dancing, singing, and music?” …
“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo naccampi gītampi vāditampi dassanāya gacchantī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that those nuns did that?”
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo naccampi gītampi vāditampi dassanāya gacchissanti.
“How could the nuns from the group of six do this?
evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
“Yā pana bhikkhunī naccaṁ vā gītaṁ vā vāditaṁ vā dassanāya gaccheyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a nun goes to see dancing or singing or music, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”
…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.
Dassanāya gacchati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she is on her way to see it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Yattha ṭhitā passati vā suṇāti vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Wherever she stands to see it or hear it, she commits an offense entailing confession.
Dassanūpacāraṁ vijahitvā punappunaṁ passati vā suṇāti vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Every time she goes beyond the range of sight and then sees it or hears it again, she commits an offense entailing confession.
Ekamekaṁ dassanāya gacchati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she is on her way to see any one of the three, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Yattha ṭhitā passati vā suṇāti vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Wherever she stands to see it or hear it, she commits an offense entailing confession.
Dassanūpacāraṁ vijahitvā punappunaṁ passati vā suṇāti vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Every time she goes beyond the range of sight and then sees it or hears it again, she commits an offense entailing confession.
ārāme ṭhitā passati vā suṇāti vā,
if she sees it or hears it while remaining in the monastery;
bhikkhuniyā ṭhitokāsaṁ vā nisinnokāsaṁ vā nipannokāsaṁ vā āgantvā naccanti vā gāyanti vā vādenti vā,
if the dancing, singing, or music comes to the place where the nun is standing, sitting, or lying down;
paṭipathaṁ gacchantī passati vā suṇāti vā,
if she sees it or hears it while walking in the opposite direction;
sati karaṇīye gantvā passati vā suṇāti vā,
if she goes there because there is something to be done and she then sees it or hears it;