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 Venerable Udāyī had become skilled in making robes. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā udāyī paṭṭo hoti cīvarakammaṁ kātuṁ. On one occasion a certain nun went to Udāyī and said to him, Aññatarā bhikkhunī yenāyasmā udāyī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca—“Venerable, would you please sew me a robe?” “sādhu me, bhante, ayyo cīvaraṁ sibbatū”ti.

He then sewed a robe for that nun, well-dyed and beautifully made, and he drew a picture in the middle of it. He then folded it and put it aside. Atha kho āyasmā udāyī tassā bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ sibbitvā surattaṁ suparikammakataṁ katvā majjhe paṭibhānacittaṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā saṁharitvā nikkhipi. Soon afterwards that nun went to Udāyī and said, Atha kho sā bhikkhunī yenāyasmā udāyī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca—“Sir, where’s the robe?” “kahaṁ taṁ, bhante, cīvaran”ti?

“Now, Sister, take this robe as it’s folded and put it aside. When the Sangha of nuns goes to the instruction, then put it on and follow right behind the other nuns.” “Handa, bhagini, imaṁ cīvaraṁ yathāsaṁhaṭaṁ haritvā nikkhipitvā yadā bhikkhunisaṅgho ovādaṁ āgacchati tadā imaṁ cīvaraṁ pārupitvā bhikkhunisaṅghassa piṭṭhito piṭṭhito āgacchā”ti.

And that nun did just that. Atha kho sā bhikkhunī taṁ cīvaraṁ yathāsaṁhaṭaṁ haritvā nikkhipitvā yadā bhikkhunisaṅgho ovādaṁ āgacchati tadā taṁ cīvaraṁ pārupitvā bhikkhunisaṅghassa piṭṭhito piṭṭhito āgacchati. People complained and criticized her, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How indecent these nuns are, what shameless scoundrels, in drawing pictures on their robes!” “yāva chinnikā imā bhikkhuniyo dhuttikā ahirikāyo, yatra hi nāma cīvare paṭibhānacittaṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti.

The nuns asked her, Bhikkhuniyo evamāhaṁsu—“Who did this?” “kassidaṁ kamman”ti?

“Venerable Udāyī.” “Ayyassa udāyissā”ti.

“This sort of work would not even make an indecent, shameless scoundrel look good, let alone Venerable Udāyī.” “Yepi te chinnakā dhuttakā ahirikā tesampi evarūpaṁ na sobheyya, kiṁ pana ayyassa udāyissā”ti.

The nuns told the monks, Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized him, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Udāyī sew a robe for a nun?” … “kathañhi nāma āyasmā udāyī bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ sibbissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, Udāyī, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, udāyi, bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ sibbasī”ti?

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

“Is she a relative of yours?” “Ñātikā te, udāyi, 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 inspiring and uninspiring, in dealing with each other. “Aññātako, moghapurisa, aññātikāya na jānāti patirūpaṁ vā appatirūpaṁ vā pāsādikaṁ vā apāsādikaṁ vā. So how could you do this? Kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, aññātikāya bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ sibbissasi. 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—