Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme. the monks from the group of six went to the nuns’ dwelling place to instruct the nuns from the group of six. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovadanti. Soon afterwards other nuns said to those nuns, Bhikkhuniyo chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo etadavocuṁ—“Come, Venerables, let’s go to the instruction.” “ethāyye, ovādaṁ gamissāmā”ti.

“There’s no need. The monks from the group of six came and instructed us right here.” “Yampi mayaṁ, ayye, gaccheyyāma ovādassa kāraṇā, ayyā chabbaggiyā idheva āgantvā amhe ovadantī”ti.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could the nuns from the group of six not go to the instruction?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovādaṁ na gacchissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that those nuns didn’t do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovādaṁ na gacchantī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could the nuns from the group of six not do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovādaṁ na gacchissanti. 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—