Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. two nuns who were plagued by lust entered their room and slapped their genitals with the palms of their hands. Tena kho pana samayena dve bhikkhuniyo anabhiratiyā pīḷitā ovarakaṁ pavisitvā talaghātakaṁ karonti. Hearing the sound, the nuns rushed up and asked them, Bhikkhuniyo tena saddena upadhāvitvā tā bhikkhuniyo etadavocuṁ—“Venerables, are you having sex with a man?” “kissa tumhe, ayye, purisena saddhiṁ sampadussathā”ti?

“No, we’re not,” and they told them what had happened. “Na mayaṁ, ayye, purisena saddhiṁ sampadussāmā”ti bhikkhunīnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns slap their genitals with their hands?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo talaghātakaṁ karissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns did that?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo talaghātakaṁ karontī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them, Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could nuns do that? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo talaghātakaṁ karissanti. 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—