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 bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjanti.
the nuns were using high and luxurious couches.
Manussā vihāracārikaṁ āhiṇḍantā passitvā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
When people walking about the dwellings saw this, they complained and criticized them,
“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.
“How can nuns use high and luxurious couches? 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 bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjissantī”ti …pe…
“How can nuns do this?” …
“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjantī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?”
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjissanti.
“How can nuns do this?
evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
“Yā pana bhikkhunī āsandiṁ vā pallaṅkaṁ vā paribhuñjeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a nun uses a high or luxurious couch, 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.
tasmiṁ abhinisīdati vā abhinipajjati vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
if she sits down or lies down on it, she commits an offense entailing confession.
pallaṅkassa vāḷe bhinditvā paribhuñjati,
if she uses a luxurious couch after removing the decorations with images of predatory animals;