Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
The Nuns’ Analysis
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Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.
At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu,
Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovadanti.
the monks from the group of six went to the nuns’ dwelling place to instruct the nuns from the group of six.
“Yampi mayaṁ, ayye, gaccheyyāma ovādassa kāraṇā, ayyā chabbaggiyā idheva āgantvā amhe ovadantī”ti.
“There’s no need. The monks from the group of six came and instructed us right here.”
Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,
“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovādaṁ na gacchissantī”ti …pe…
“How could the nuns from the group of six not go to the instruction?” …
“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovādaṁ na gacchantī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that those nuns didn’t do this?”
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovādaṁ na gacchissanti.
“How could the nuns from the group of six not do this?
evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
“Yā pana bhikkhunī ovādāya vā saṁvāsāya vā na gaccheyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a nun does not go to the instruction or to a formal meeting of the community, 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.
ekakammaṁ ekuddeso samasikkhatā.
joint legal procedures, a joint recitation, the same training.
Ovādāya vā saṁvāsāya vā na gacchissāmīti dhuraṁ nikkhittamatte āpatti pācittiyassa.
If she thinks, “I won’t go to the instruction or to formal meetings of the community,” then by the mere fact of abandoning her duty, she commits an offense entailing confession.
pariyesitvā dutiyikaṁ bhikkhuniṁ na labhati,
if she searches for a companion nun, but does not find one;