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 the nun Thullanandā was using a robe she had received after trading with another nun. Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī aññatarāya bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ cīvaraṁ parivattetvā paribhuñji. But the other nun folded up the robe she had received and put it aside. Atha kho sā bhikkhunī taṁ cīvaraṁ saṅgharitvā nikkhipi. Thullanandā then said to her, Thullanandā bhikkhunī taṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—“Venerable, where’s that robe that I traded with you?” “yaṁ te, ayye, mayā saddhiṁ cīvaraṁ parivattitaṁ, kahaṁ taṁ cīvaran”ti? She brought out the robe and showed it to her, Atha kho sā bhikkhunī taṁ cīvaraṁ nīharitvā thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā dassesi. and Thullanandā said, Thullanandā bhikkhunī taṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—“Here’s your robe and give me that robe of mine. That which is yours is yours and that which is mine is mine. Give me that and take back what’s yours.” And she just took it. “handāyye, tuyhaṁ cīvaraṁ, āhara metaṁ cīvaraṁ, yaṁ tuyhaṁ tuyhamevetaṁ, yaṁ mayhaṁ mayhamevetaṁ, āhara metaṁ, sakaṁ paccāharā”ti acchindi.

That nun then told the nuns what had happened. Atha kho sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā trade a robe with a nun and then take it back?” “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ cīvaraṁ parivattetvā acchindissatī”ti. Those nuns then told the monks, Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. who in turn told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: Bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ cīvaraṁ parivattetvā acchindatī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could the nun Thullanandā trade a robe with a nun and then take it back? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ cīvaraṁ parivattetvā acchindissati. 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—