- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
- The chapter on relinquishment Nissaggiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on robes Cīvaravagga
4. The training rule on used robes 4. Purāṇacīvarasikkhāpada
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. Venerable Udāyī’s ex-wife became a nun. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmato udāyissa purāṇadutiyikā bhikkhunīsu pabbajitā hoti. She frequently visited Udāyī, Sā āyasmato udāyissa santike abhikkhaṇaṁ āgacchati. and he frequently visited her. Āyasmāpi udāyī tassā bhikkhuniyā santike abhikkhaṇaṁ gacchati. And Udāyī shared his meals with that nun. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā udāyī tassā bhikkhuniyā santike bhattavissaggaṁ karoti.
One morning Udāyī robed up, took his bowl and robe, and went to her. He then uncovered his genitals in front of her and sat down on a seat. Atha kho āyasmā udāyī pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena sā bhikkhunī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tassā bhikkhuniyā purato aṅgajātaṁ vivaritvā āsane nisīdi. She too uncovered her genitals in front of him and sat down on a seat. Sāpi kho bhikkhunī āyasmato udāyissa purato aṅgajātaṁ vivaritvā āsane nisīdi. Lustfully staring at her genitals, he emitted semen. Atha kho āyasmā udāyī sāratto tassā bhikkhuniyā aṅgajātaṁ upanijjhāyi. Tassa asuci mucci.
He then said to that nun: Atha kho āyasmā udāyī taṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—“Sister, get some water. I’ll wash the robe.” “gaccha, bhagini, udakaṁ āhara, antaravāsakaṁ dhovissāmī”ti.
“Give it to me, venerable, I’ll wash it.” “Āharayya, ahameva dhovissāmī”ti
She then took some of the semen in her mouth and inserted some into her vagina. taṁ asuciṁ ekadesaṁ mukhena aggahesi ekadesaṁ aṅgajāte pakkhipi. Because of that she became pregnant. Sā tena gabbhaṁ gaṇhi. The nuns said, Bhikkhuniyo evamāhaṁsu—“This nun doesn’t abstain from sex. She’s pregnant.” “abrahmacārinī ayaṁ bhikkhunī, gabbhinī”ti.
She said, “Venerables, I do abstain from sex,” and she told them what had happened. “Nāhaṁ, ayye, abrahmacārinī”ti bhikkhunīnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi.
The nuns complained and criticized Udāyī, Bhikkhuniyo ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Udāyī get a nun to wash a used robe?” “kathañhi nāma ayyo udāyī bhikkhuniyā purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpessatī”ti. They then told the monks. Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Udāyī get a nun to wash a used robe?” “kathañhi nāma āyasmā udāyī bhikkhuniyā purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpessatī”ti.
After rebuking him in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Udāyī: Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, Udāyī, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, udāyi, bhikkhuniyā purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpesī”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. And still you did this. Tattha nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, aññātikāya bhikkhuniyā purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpessasi. 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—
Final ruling
‘If a monk has an unrelated nun wash, dye, or beat a used robe, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu aññātikāya bhikkhuniyā purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeyya vā rajāpeyya vā ākoṭāpeyya vā, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyan”ti.
Definitions
- A: Yo panāti
- whoever … yo yādiso …pe…
- Monk: bhikkhūti
- … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case. …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
- Unrelated: Aññātikā nāma
- anyone who is not a descendant of one’s male ancestors going back eight generations, either on the mother’s side or on the father’s side. mātito vā pitito vā yāva sattamā pitāmahayugā asambaddhā.
- A nun: Bhikkhunī nāma
- she has been given the full ordination by both Sanghas. ubhatosaṅghe upasampannā.
- A used robe: Purāṇacīvaraṁ nāma
- a sarong or an upper robe, even worn once. sakiṁ nivatthampi sakiṁ pārutampi.
If he tells her to wash it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Dhovāti āṇāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. When it has been washed, it becomes subject to relinquishment. Dhotaṁ nissaggiyaṁ hoti. If he tells her to dye it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Rajāti āṇāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. When it has been dyed, it becomes subject to relinquishment. Rattaṁ nissaggiyaṁ hoti. If he tells her to beat it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ākoṭehīti āṇāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. When she has struck it once with her hand or with an implement, it becomes subject to relinquishment. Sakiṁ pāṇippahāraṁ vā muggarappahāraṁ vā dinne nissaggiyaṁ hoti.
The robe should be relinquished to a sangha, a group, or an individual. Nissajjitabbaṁ saṅghassa vā gaṇassa vā puggalassa vā. “And, monks, it should be relinquished like this. Evañca pana, bhikkhave, nissajjitabbaṁ. (To be expanded as in <a href='https://suttacentral.net/pli-tv-bu-vb-np1#3.2.5'>Bu NP 1:3.2.5</a>–3.2.29, with appropriate substitutions.) …pe…
‘Venerables, this used robe, which I got an unrelated nun to wash, is to be relinquished. idaṁ me, bhante, purāṇacīvaraṁ aññātikāya bhikkhuniyā dhovāpitaṁ nissaggiyaṁ. I relinquish it to the Sangha.’ … Imāhaṁ saṅghassa nissajjāmīti …pe… the Sangha should give … dadeyyāti …pe… you should give … dadeyyunti …pe… ‘I give this robe back to you.’” āyasmato dammīti.
Permutations
If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and confession. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her wash and dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeti rajāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her wash and beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeti ākoṭāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her wash, dye, and beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and two offenses of wrong conduct. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeti rajāpeti ākoṭāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dvinnaṁ dukkaṭānaṁ.
If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and confession. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ rajāpeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her dye and beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ rajāpeti ākoṭāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her dye and wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ rajāpeti dhovāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her dye, beat, and wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and two offenses of wrong conduct. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ rajāpeti ākoṭāpeti dhovāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dvinnaṁ dukkaṭānaṁ.
If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and confession. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ ākoṭāpeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her beat and wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ ākoṭāpeti dhovāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her beat and dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ ākoṭāpeti rajāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he has her beat, wash, and dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and two offenses of wrong conduct. Aññātikāya aññātikasaññī purāṇacīvaraṁ ākoṭāpeti dhovāpeti rajāpeti, nissaggiyena āpatti dvinnaṁ dukkaṭānaṁ.
If she is unrelated, but he is unsure of it … Aññātikāya vematiko …pe… If she is unrelated, but he perceives her as related … aññātikāya ñātikasaññī …pe…
If he has her wash a used robe belonging to someone else, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. aññassa purāṇacīvaraṁ dhovāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If he has her wash a sitting mat or a sheet, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Nisīdanapaccattharaṇaṁ dhovāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If he has a nun who is fully ordained only on one side do the washing, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ekatoupasampannāya dhovāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she is related, but he perceives her as unrelated, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ñātikāya aññātikasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is related, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ñātikāya vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is related and he perceives her as such, there is no offense. Ñātikāya ñātikasaññī, anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if a related nun does the washing and an unrelated nun helps her; ñātikāya dhovantiyā aññātikā dutiyā hoti, if a nun does the washing without being asked; avuttā dhovati, if he has a nun wash an unused robe; aparibhuttaṁ dhovāpeti, if he has a nun wash any requisite apart from a robe; cīvaraṁ ṭhapetvā aññaṁ parikkhāraṁ dhovāpeti, if it is a trainee nun; sikkhamānāya, if it is a novice nun; sāmaṇeriyā, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.
The training rule on used robes, the fourth, is finished. Purāṇacīvarasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.