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. the nuns from the group of six were spinning yarn. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo suttaṁ kantanti. When people walking about the dwellings saw this, they complained and criticized them, Manussā vihāracārikaṁ āhiṇḍantā passitvā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the nuns spin yarn? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo suttaṁ kantissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.

The nuns heard the complaints of those people, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the nuns from the group of six spin yarn?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo suttaṁ kantissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo suttaṁ kantantī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can the nuns from the group of six do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo suttaṁ kantissanti. 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—