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 chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇanti.
At that time the nuns from the group of six were studying worldly subjects.
“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.
“How can the nuns study worldly subjects? 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 tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇissantī”ti …pe…
“How can the nuns from the group of six do this?” …
“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇantī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?”
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇissanti.
“How can 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 tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a nun studies worldly subjects, 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.
yaṁ kiñci bāhirakaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ.
whatever is external to the Buddha’s Teaching, not connected with the goal.
padena pariyāpuṇāti, pade pade āpatti pācittiyassa.
if she learns by the line, then for every line she commits an offense entailing confession.
Akkharāya pariyāpuṇāti, akkharakkharāya āpatti pācittiyassa.
If she learns by the syllable, then for every syllable she commits an offense entailing confession.