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 nuns who had received the full admission did not follow their mentors for two years. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo vuṭṭhāpitaṁ pavattiniṁ dve vassāni nānubandhanti. They were ignorant and incompetent, Tā bālā honti abyattā; and they did not know what was allowable and what was not. na jānanti kappiyaṁ vā akappiyaṁ vā.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can those nuns receive the full admission and then not follow their mentors for two years?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo vuṭṭhāpitaṁ pavattiniṁ dve vassāni nānubandhissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns don’t do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo vuṭṭhāpitaṁ pavattiniṁ dve vassāni nānubandhantī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can nuns not do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo vuṭṭhāpitaṁ pavattiniṁ dve vassāni nānubandhissanti. 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—