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Note:Translations, dictionaries and commentaries were not made by the Blessed One.Cross-check with Pali in 4 main nikayas.

  • Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
  • MahāvibhaṅgaThe Great Analysis
  • PācittiyakaṇḍaThe chapter on offenses entailing confession
  • Ovādavagga
    Ovādavagga → bhikkhunūpassayasikkhāpadaṁ (bj)
    The subchapter on the instruction

23. BhikkhunupassayasikkhāpadaInstructing nuns in a nunnery

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.
bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (bj, sya-all, pts)
the monks from the group of six went to the nunnery and instructed the nuns from the group of six.

Bhikkhuniyo chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo etadavocuṁ—
etadavocuṁ ethāyye → etad avocuṁ eth ayye (pts)
Soon afterwards, other nuns said to the nuns from the group of six,
“ethāyye, ovādaṁ gamissāmā”ti.
ethāyye → ethayye (bj); etha ayye (sya-all) | gamissāmāti yampi → gamissāmā ti yaṁ hi (pts) | ethayye → ethāyye (bj: machasaṁ)
“Come, venerables, let’s go to the instruction.”

“Yampi mayaṁ, ayye, gaccheyyāma ovādassa kāraṇā, ayyā chabbaggiyā idheva āgantvā amhe ovadantī”ti.
Yampi → yaṁ hi (pts1ed, mr) | āgantvā → (bj, sya-all) | idheva āgantvā → idh eva (pts) | Yampi → yaṁ hi (cck: ka.) | yampi → yaṁ hi (sya-all: yu. ma.)
“There’s no need. The monks from the group of six came and instructed us right here.”

Bhikkhuniyo ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
khiyyanti → khīyanti (bj, sya-all) | ujjhāyanti khiyyanti → (pts)
The nuns complained and criticized the monks from the group of six,
“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī”ti.
chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī”ti → chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovādaṁ na gacchissantīti (bj); chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunūpassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadantīti (sya-all) | bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā → (bj) | ovadissantīti → ovādaṁ na gacchissantiti (bj) | bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (sya-all, pts) | ovadissantīti atha kho → ovadantīti athakho (sya-all) | gacchissanti”ti → “kathaṁhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhu bhikkhunūpassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī”ti (bj: machasaṁ) | ovadissantī’’ti → chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovādaṁ na gacchissantīti (cck: sī.)
“How could the monks from the group of six go to the nunnery and instruct the nuns?”
Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.Then those nuns told the monks.

Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
khiyyanti → khīyanti (bj, sya-all)
The monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks,
“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī”ti …pe…
bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (bj, sya-all) | ovadissantīti → ovadantīti (sya-all) | bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (pts)
“How could those monks do this?”…
“saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadathā”ti?
bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (bj, sya-all) | bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadathāti → ovadathā ti (pts)
“Is it true, monks, that you did this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them … kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissatha.
bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (bj, sya-all) | bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo → (pts)
“Foolish men, how could you do this?
Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

“Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (bj, sya-all, pts)
‘If a monk goes to a nunnery and instructs the nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

Tena kho pana samayena mahāpajāpati gotamī gilānā hoti.Soon afterwards Mahāpajāpati Gotamī became sick. Therā bhikkhū yena mahāpajāpati gotamī tenupasaṅkamiṁsu;The senior monks went to see her upasaṅkamitvā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavocuṁ—“and said, kacci, gotami, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyan”ti?
kacci → kacci te (bj, sya-all) | gotami → te gotamī (bj) | kacci → kacci te (cck, pts) | gotamī → kacaci gotami (bj: machasaṁ)
“We hope you’re bearing up, Gotamī, we hope you’re getting better?”

“Na me, ayyā, khamanīyaṁ na yāpanīyaṁ”.“I’m not bearing up, venerables, and I’m not getting better. “Iṅghayyā, dhammaṁ desethā”ti.Please give me a teaching.”

“Na, bhagini, kappati bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo dhammaṁ desetun”ti kukkuccāyantā na desesuṁ.
bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (bj, sya-all, pts) | na → na tāva (sya-all) | bhikkhuniyo → bhikkhuniyā (sya-all, pts) | desetun → yaṁ hi AB, ampi C. (pts note)
“It’s not allowable for us to go a nunnery and teach the nuns.” And being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not teach her.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena mahāpajāpati gotamī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.
pubbaṇhasamayaṁ → pubbanhasamayaṁ (bj)
Soon afterwards, after robing up in the morning, the Buddha took his bowl and robe and went to Mahāpajāpati Gotamī where he sat down on the prepared seat.
Nisajja kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca—
mahāpajāpatiṁ → mahāpajātiṁ (sya-all)
He said to her,
“kacci, gotami, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyan”ti?
kacci → kacci te (bj, cck, sya-all, pts)
“I hope you’re bearing up, Gotamī, I hope you’re getting better?”

“Pubbe me, bhante, therā bhikkhū āgantvā dhammaṁ desenti.“Previously, sir, the senior monks would come and teach me, Tena me phāsu hoti.
phāsu → bhikkhuniyo dhammaṁ des- AB, dh- bhikkhuṇiyo d- C. Read, bhikkhuniyā dh- d-. (pts note) | hoti → tena me bhante ph- hoti C. (pts note)
and because of that I would be comfortable.
Idāni pana—‘bhagavatā paṭikkhittan’ti, kukkuccāyantā na desenti.But now that this has been prohibited by the Buddha, they don’t teach because they’re afraid of wrongdoing. Tena me na phāsu hotī”ti.Because of that I’m not comfortable.”

Atha kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.
mahāpajāpatiṁ → mahāpajātiṁ (sya-all) | sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā → (pts)
After instructing, inspiring, and gladdening her with a teaching, the Buddha got up from his seat and left.
Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“anujānāmi, bhikkhave, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā gilānaṁ bhikkhuniṁ ovadituṁ.
bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (bj, sya-all, pts)
“Monks, I allow you to go a nunnery and instruct a sick nun.

Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

“Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ.
bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (bj, sya-all, pts1ed) | bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (pts)
‘If a monk goes to a nunnery and instructs the nuns, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Gilānā hoti bhikkhunī—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.This is the appropriate occasion: a nun is sick.’”

Yo panātiA:
yo yādiso …pe…whoever …
bhikkhūtiMonk:
…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
bhikkhūti bhikkhunupassayo → bhikkhū ti bhikkhunūpassayo (pts)
… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.
Bhikkhunupassayo nāma
bhikkhunupassayo → bhikkhunūpassayo (bj, sya-all)
A nunnery:
yattha bhikkhuniyo ekarattampi vasanti.wherever nuns stay, even for a single night.
UpasaṅkamitvātiGoes to:
tattha gantvā.goes there.
Bhikkhunī nāma
bhikkhunī → bhikkhuniyo (sya-all, pts)
The nuns:
ubhatosaṅghe upasampannā.they have been given the full ordination by both Sanghas.
OvadeyyātiInstructs:
aṭṭhahi garudhammehi ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
garudhammehi → garudhaccehi (bj)
if he instructs about the eight important principles, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Aññatra samayātiExcept on an appropriate occasion:
ṭhapetvā samayaṁ.unless it is an appropriate occasion.
Gilānā nāma bhikkhunīA sick nun:
na sakkoti ovādāya vā saṁvāsāya vā gantuṁ.she is not able to go to the instruction or to a formal meeting of the community.

Upasampannāya upasampannasaññī bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā aññatra samayā ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (bj, sya-all, pts)
If she is fully ordained, and he perceives her as such, and he goes to the nunnery and instructs her, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Upasampannāya vematiko bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā aññatra samayā ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (bj, sya-all) | bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā aññatra samayā → (pts)
If she is fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, and he goes to the nunnery and instructs her, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Upasampannāya anupasampannasaññī bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā aññatra samayā ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
bhikkhunupassayaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayaṁ (bj, sya-all) | bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā aññatra samayā → (pts)
If she is fully ordained, but he does not perceive her as such, and he goes to the nunnery and instructs her, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Aññena dhammena ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he instructs her with another teaching, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ekatoupasampannāya ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
ekatoupasampannāya → ekato upasampannaṁ (sya-all) | ovadati → ekatoupasampannāya ovadati ABC, ekatoupasannāya D. (pts note)
If he instructs a nun who is fully ordained only on one side, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Anupasampannāya upasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is not fully ordained, but he perceives her as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampannāya vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she is not fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampannāya anupasampannasaññī, anāpatti.If she is not fully ordained, and he does not perceive her as such, there is no offense.

Anāpatti—There is no offense: samaye,if it is an appropriate occasion; uddesaṁ dento,if he recites; paripucchaṁ dento,if he tests them; “osārehi ayyā”ti vuccamāno osāreti,if he recites when asked to do so; pañhaṁ pucchati,if he asks a question; pañhaṁ puṭṭho katheti,if he replies when asked a question; aññassatthāya bhaṇantaṁ bhikkhuniyo suṇanti,if he is speaking for the benefit of someone else and the nuns listen in; sikkhamānāya,if it is to a trainee nun; sāmaṇeriyā,
sāmaṇeriyā → sāmaṇerāya (bj)
if it is to a novice nun;
ummattakassa,if he is insane; ādikammikassāti.if he is the first offender.

Bhikkhunupassayasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ tatiyaṁ.
Bhikkhunupassayasikkhāpadaṁ → bhikkhunūpassayasikkhāpadaṁ (bj) | tatiyaṁ → (sya-all)
The training rule on instructing nuns in a nunnery, the third, is finished.

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