Tripiṭaka Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
The Nuns’ Analysis
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Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.
Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī naṭānampi naṭakānampi laṅghakānampi sokajjhāyikānampi kumbhathūṇikānampi samaṇacīvaraṁ deti—
At that time the nun Thullanandā was giving monastic robes to actors, dancers, acrobats, magicians, and musicians, saying,
Naṭāpi naṭakāpi laṅghakāpi sokajjhāyikāpi kumbhathūṇikāpi thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā parisati vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti—
And they did:
“ayyā thullanandā bahussutā bhāṇikā visāradā paṭṭā dhammiṁ kathaṁ kātuṁ;
“Venerable Thullanandā is a learned reciter; she’s confident and skilled at giving teachings.
Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā … tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,
“kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ dassatī”ti …pe…
“How can Venerable Thullanandā give monastic robes to householders?” …
“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ detī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā does this?”
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ dassati.
“How can the nun Thullanandā do this?
evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
“Yā pana bhikkhunī agārikassa vā paribbājakassa vā paribbājikāya vā samaṇacīvaraṁ dadeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a nun gives a monastic robe to a householder or a male wanderer or a female wanderer, 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.
bhikkhuñca sāmaṇerañca ṭhapetvā yo koci paribbājakasamāpanno.
any male wanderer apart from Buddhist monks and novice monks.
bhikkhuniñca sikkhamānañca sāmaṇeriñca ṭhapetvā yā kāci paribbājikasamāpannā.
any female wanderer apart from Buddhist nuns, trainee nuns, and novice nuns.
Deti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If she gives it away, she commits an offense entailing confession.