Tripiṭaka Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
The Nuns’ Analysis
Tip — double-click any Pāli word to look it up in the dictionary.
Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,
Tena kho pana samayena caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi.
the nun Caṇḍakāḷī was socializing with householders and their offspring.
Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,
“kathañhi nāma ayyā caṇḍakāḷī saṁsaṭṭhā viharissati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapī”ti …pe…
“How can Venerable Caṇḍakāḷī socialize with householders and their offspring?” …
“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that the nun Caṇḍakāḷī does this?”
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharissati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi.
“How can the nun Caṇḍakāḷī do this?
evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
“Yā pana bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā vihareyya gahapatinā vā gahapatiputtena vā sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi evamassa vacanīyā—
‘If a nun is socializing with a householder or a householder’s offspring, the nuns should correct her like this:
‘māyye, saṁsaṭṭhā vihari gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. Viviccāyye; vivekaññeva bhaginiyā saṅgho vaṇṇetī’ti.
“Venerable, don’t socialize with householders or householders’ offspring. Be secluded, Venerable. The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.”
Evañca sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi vuccamānā tatheva paggaṇheyya, sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi yāvatatiyaṁ samanubhāsitabbā tassa paṭinissaggāya.
If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop.
Yāvatatiyañce samanubhāsīyamānā taṁ paṭinissajjeyya, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; no ce paṭinissajjeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
If she then stops, all is well. If she does not stop, 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.
ananulomikena kāyikavācasikena saṁsaṭṭhā.
she socializes with improper bodily and verbal actions.
aññāhi bhikkhunīhi. Yā passanti yā suṇanti tāhi vattabbā—
other nuns who see it or hear about it. They should correct her like this:
“māyye, saṁsaṭṭhā vihari gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi.
“Venerable, don’t socialize with householders or householders’ offspring.
no ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Sutvā na vadanti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.
Sā bhikkhunī saṅghamajjhampi ākaḍḍhitvā vattabbā—
That nun, even if she has to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this:
“māyye, saṁsaṭṭhā vihari gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi.
“Venerable, don’t socialize with householders or householders’ offspring.
no ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—
A competent and capable nun should inform the Sangha:
Ayaṁ itthannāmā bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi.
The nun so-and-so is socializing with householders and their offspring.
Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ, saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuniṁ samanubhāseyya tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya.
If the Sangha is ready, it should press her to make her stop.
Ayaṁ itthannāmā bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi.
The nun so-and-so is socializing with householders and their offspring.
Saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuniṁ samanubhāsati tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya.
The Sangha presses her to make her stop.
Yassā ayyāya khamati itthannāmāya bhikkhuniyā samanubhāsanā tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya, sā tuṇhassa;
Any nun who approves of pressing nun so-and-so to make her stop should remain silent.
Samanubhaṭṭhā saṅghena itthannāmā bhikkhunī tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya;
The Sangha has pressed nun so-and-so to stop.
khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.
The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’”
Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā.
After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Kammavācāpariyosāne āpatti pācittiyassa.
When the last announcement is finished, she commits an offense entailing confession.
Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession.
Dhammakamme vematikā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession.
Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession.
Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Adhammakamme vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.