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 gave the full admission to a woman who was breastfeeding. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo pāyantiṁ vuṭṭhāpenti. When she walked for alms, Sā piṇḍāya carati. people said, Manussā evamāhaṁsu—“Give almsfood to the Venerable. She has a companion.” “dethāyyāya bhikkhaṁ, sadutiyikā ayyā”ti. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the nuns give the full admission to a woman who is breastfeeding?” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo pāyantiṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”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 could nuns do this?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo pāyantiṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo pāyantiṁ vuṭṭhāpentī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could nuns do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo pāyantiṁ vuṭṭhāpessanti. 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—