Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time a lay follower who had given a storehouse to the Sangha of nuns had died. Tena kho pana samayena aññataro upāsako bhikkhunisaṅghassa udositaṁ datvā kālaṅkato hoti. He had two sons, Tassa dve puttā honti—one with and one without faith and confidence, eko assaddho appasanno, eko saddho pasanno. and they divided their father’s property between them. Te pettikaṁ sāpateyyaṁ vibhajiṁsu. Then the one without faith said to the other, Atha kho so assaddho appasanno taṁ saddhaṁ pasannaṁ etadavoca—“The storehouse is ours; let’s allocate it to one of us.” “amhākaṁ udosito, taṁ bhājemā”ti. But the one with faith responded, Evaṁ vutte, so saddho pasanno taṁ assaddhaṁ appasannaṁ etadavoca—“No, “māyyo, evaṁ avaca. our father gave it to the Sangha of nuns.” Amhākaṁ pitunā bhikkhunisaṅghassa dinno”ti.

A second time they both said the same thing, Dutiyampi kho so assaddho appasanno taṁ saddhaṁ pasannaṁ etadavoca—“amhākaṁ udosito, taṁ bhājemā”ti. Atha kho so saddho pasanno taṁ assaddhaṁ appasannaṁ etadavoca—“māyyo, evaṁ avaca. Amhākaṁ pitunā bhikkhunisaṅghassa dinno”ti. and a third time the one without faith repeated his proposal. Tatiyampi kho so assaddho appasanno taṁ saddhaṁ pasannaṁ etadavoca—“amhākaṁ udosito, taṁ bhājemā”ti. The one with faith then thought, Atha kho so saddho pasanno—“If I get it, I too would give it to the Sangha of nuns,” “sace mayhaṁ bhavissati, ahampi bhikkhunisaṅghassa dassāmī”ti—and he said, taṁ assaddhaṁ appasannaṁ etadavoca—“Alright, let’s allocate it.” “bhājemā”ti.

But when they allocated it, it fell to the one without faith. Atha kho so udosito tehi bhājīyamāno tassa assaddhassa appasannassa pāpuṇāti. He then went to the nuns and said, Atha kho so assaddho appasanno bhikkhuniyo upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca—“Please leave, Venerables, this storehouse is mine.” “nikkhamathāyye, amhākaṁ udosito”ti.

The nun Thullanandā said to him, Evaṁ vutte thullanandā bhikkhunī taṁ purisaṁ etadavoca—“No, your father gave it to the Sangha of nuns.” “māyyo, evaṁ avaca, tumhākaṁ pitunā bhikkhunisaṅghassa dinno”ti.

Because they were unable to agree, they asked judges to decide on the matter. “Dinno na dinno”ti vohārike mahāmatte pucchiṁsu. They said, Mahāmattā evamāhaṁsu—“Venerable, who knows that it was given to the Sangha of nuns?” “ko, ayye, jānāti bhikkhunisaṅghassa dinno”ti? Thullanandā replied, Evaṁ vutte, thullanandā bhikkhunī te mahāmatte etadavoca—“But Sirs, didn’t you appoint a witness who saw or heard the giving of the gift?” “api nāyyā tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ vā sutaṁ vā sakkhiṁ ṭhapayitvā dānaṁ diyyamānan”ti? Saying, Atha kho te mahāmattā—“It’s true what the Venerable says,” the judges made the storehouse the property of the Sangha of nuns. “saccaṁ kho ayyā āhā”ti taṁ udositaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghassa akaṁsu.

The defeated man complained and criticized the nuns, Atha kho so puriso parājito ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“They’re not monastics these shaven-headed sluts. “assamaṇiyo imā muṇḍā bandhakiniyo. How could they take my storehouse?” Kathañhi nāma amhākaṁ udositaṁ acchindāpessantī”ti. Thullanandā told the judges of this Thullanandā bhikkhunī mahāmattānaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi. and they punished him. Mahāmattā taṁ purisaṁ daṇḍāpesuṁ. That man then made a dwelling place for Ājīvaka ascetics not far from the nuns, Atha kho so puriso daṇḍito bhikkhunupassayassa avidūre ājīvakaseyyaṁ kārāpetvā ājīvake uyyojesi—inciting them to abuse the nuns. “etā bhikkhuniyo accāvadathā”ti.

Once again Thullanandā told the judges Thullanandā bhikkhunī mahāmattānaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi. and the judges jailed him. Mahāmattā taṁ purisaṁ bandhāpesuṁ. People then complained and criticized those nuns, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“First the nuns take his storehouse, then they have him punished, and then they have him jailed. “paṭhamaṁ bhikkhuniyo udositaṁ acchindāpesuṁ, dutiyaṁ daṇḍāpesuṁ, tatiyaṁ bandhāpesuṁ. Next they’ll have him executed!” Idāni ghātāpessantī”ti.

Nuns heard the complaints of those people, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā take legal action?” “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā ussayavādikā viharissatī”ti.

Then those nuns told the monks … Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā is taking legal action?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī ussayavādikā viharatī”ti.

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

The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could the nun Thullanandā take legal action? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī ussayavādikā viharissati. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—