Tripiṭaka Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
The Nuns’ Analysis
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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 chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo itthālaṅkāraṁ dhārenti.
the nuns from the group of six were wearing jewellery.
“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo itthālaṅkāraṁ dhāressanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.
“How can nuns wear jewellery? 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—
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,
“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo itthālaṅkāraṁ dhāressantī”ti …pe…
“How can the nuns from the group of six wear jewellery?” …
“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo itthālaṅkāraṁ dhārentī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?”
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo itthālaṅkāraṁ dhāressanti.
“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 itthālaṅkāraṁ dhāreyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a nun wears jewellery, 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.
sīsūpago gīvūpago hatthūpago pādūpago kaṭūpago.
what goes on the head, what goes around the neck, what goes on the hands, what goes on the feet, what goes around the hips.
sakimpi dhāreti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
if she wears it even once, she commits an offense entailing confession.