Origin story

First sub-story

On one occasion when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. a certain monk was walking for almsfood along a street in Sāvatthī, as was a certain nun. Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu sāvatthiyaṁ aññatarissā visikhāya piṇḍāya carati. Aññatarāpi bhikkhunī tassā visikhāya piṇḍāya carati. That monk said to that nun, “Go to such-and-such a place, Sister, and you’ll get alms,” Atha kho so bhikkhu taṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—“gaccha, bhagini, amukasmiṁ okāse bhikkhā diyyatī”ti. and she said the same to him. Sāpi kho evamāha—“gacchāyya, amukasmiṁ okāse bhikkhā diyyatī”ti. And because they met frequently, they became friends. Te abhiṇhadassanena sandiṭṭhā ahesuṁ.

Just then robe-cloth belonging to the Sangha was being distributed. Tena kho pana samayena saṅghassa cīvaraṁ bhājīyati. Then, after going to the instruction, that nun went to that monk and bowed. Atha kho sā bhikkhunī ovādaṁ gantvā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. He then said to her, “Sister, will you accept my share of the robe-cloth?” Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho taṁ bhikkhuniṁ so bhikkhu etadavoca—“ ayaṁ me, bhagini, cīvarapaṭivīso; sādiyissasī”ti?

“Yes, venerable, my robes are worn.” “Āmāyya, dubbalacīvarāmhī”ti.

And he gave his robe-cloth to that nun. Atha kho so bhikkhu tassā bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ adāsi. As a consequence, his robes, too, became worn. Sopi kho bhikkhu dubbalacīvaro hoti. Other monks said to him, “Why don’t you make a robe for yourself?” Bhikkhū taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavocuṁ—“karohi dāni te, āvuso, cīvaran”ti. And he told them what had happened. Atha kho so bhikkhu bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could a monk give robe-cloth to a nun?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhu bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ dassatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monk, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ adāsī”ti?

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

“Is she a relative of yours?” “Ñātikā te, bhikkhu, aññātikā”ti?

“No.” “Aññātikā, bhagavā”ti.

“Foolish man, a man and a woman who are unrelated don’t know what’s appropriate and inappropriate, what’s good and bad, in dealing with each other. “Aññātako, moghapurisa, aññātikāya na jānāti patirūpaṁ vā appatirūpaṁ vā santaṁ vā asantaṁ vā. And still you did this. Kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, aññātikāya bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ dassasi. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Preliminary ruling

‘If a monk gives robe-cloth to an unrelated nun, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu aññātikāya bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ dadeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

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

Second sub-story

Once this had happened, the monks did not even give robe-cloth to the nuns in exchange, being afraid of wrongdoing. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā bhikkhunīnaṁ pārivattakaṁ cīvaraṁ na denti. The nuns complained and criticized them, Bhikkhuniyo ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can they not give us robe-cloth in exchange?” “kathañhi nāma ayyā amhākaṁ pārivattakaṁ cīvaraṁ na dassantī”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of those nuns Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ ujjhāyantīnaṁ khiyyantīnaṁ vipācentīnaṁ. and they told the Buddha. Atha kho te bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—

“Monks, I allow you to give things in exchange to five kinds of people: “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ pārivattakaṁ dātuṁ. monks, nuns, trainee nuns, novice monks, and novice nuns. Bhikkhussa, bhikkhuniyā, sikkhamānāya, sāmaṇerassa, sāmaṇeriyā—anujānāmi, bhikkhave, imesaṁ pañcannaṁ pārivattakaṁ dātuṁ.

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