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 the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.
Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā neva vūpakāseti na vūpakāsāpeti.
At that time the nun Thullanandā gave the full admission to a disciple, but then neither sent her away nor had her sent away.
Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,
“kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā neva vūpakāsessati na vūpakāsāpessati, sāmiko aggahesi.
“How could Venerable Thullanandā give the full admission to a disciple, and then neither send her away nor have her sent away?
Sacāyaṁ bhikkhunī pakkantā assa, na ca sāmiko gaṇheyyā”ti …pe…
If this nun had gone away, her husband would not have gotten hold of her.” …
“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā neva vūpakāseti na vūpakāsāpeti, sāmiko aggahesī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā didn’t do this?”
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā neva vūpakāsessati na vūpakāsāpessati, sāmiko aggahesi.
“How could the nun Thullanandā not do this?
evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
“Yā pana bhikkhunī sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā neva vūpakāseyya na vūpakāsāpeyya antamaso chappañcayojanānipi, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a nun gives the full admission to a disciple, and then neither sends her away nor has her sent away at least 65 to 80 kilometers, 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.
“Neva vūpakāsessāmi na vūpakāsāpessāmi antamaso chappañcayojanānipī”ti dhuraṁ nikkhittamatte āpatti pācittiyassa.
If she thinks, “I’ll neither send her away nor have her sent away, not even 65 to 80 kilometers,” 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 for her, but cannot find anyone;