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 gandhavaṇṇakena nahāyanti.
the nuns from the group of six were bathing with scents and colors.
“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo gandhavaṇṇakena nahāyissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.
“How can nuns bathe with scents and colors? 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 gandhavaṇṇakena nahāyissantī”ti …pe…
“How can the nuns from the group of six bathe with scents and colors?” …
“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo gandhavaṇṇakena nahāyantī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?”
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo gandhavaṇṇakena nahāyissanti.
“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 gandhavaṇṇakena nahāyeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a nun bathes with scents and colors, 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.
nahāyati. Payoge dukkaṭaṁ, nahānapariyosāne āpatti pācittiyassa.
is bathing. For the effort there is an act of wrong conduct. At the end of the bath, she commits an offense entailing confession.