88. Gandhavaṇṇakasikkhāpada  The training rule on scents and colors

Origin story

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.
Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—  People complained and criticized them,
“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?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.  “It’s true, Sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…  The Buddha rebuked them …
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo gandhavaṇṇakena nahāyissanti.  “How can the nuns from the group of six do this?
Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…  This will affect people’s confidence …” …
evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—  “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: