- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on unmarried girls Kumāribhūtavagga
The training rule on unmarried girls 71. Kumāribhūtasikkhāpada
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 the nuns were giving the full admission to unmarried girls less than twenty years old. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo ūnavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ vuṭṭhāpenti. They were unable to endure cold and heat; hunger and thirst; contact with horseflies, mosquitoes, wind, the burning sun, and creeping animals and insects; rude and unwelcome speech; Tā akkhamā honti sītassa uṇhassa jighacchāya pipāsāya ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṁ duruttānaṁ durāgatānaṁ vacanapathānaṁ. and they were unable to bear up with bodily feelings that are painful, severe, sharp, and destructive of life. Uppannānaṁ sārīrikānaṁ vedanānaṁ dukkhānaṁ tibbānaṁ kharānaṁ kaṭukānaṁ asātānaṁ amanāpānaṁ pāṇaharānaṁ anadhivāsakajātikā honti.
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns give the full admission to unmarried girls less than twelve years old?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo ūnavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo ūnavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ vuṭṭhāpentī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can nuns do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo ūnavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ vuṭṭhāpessanti. An unmarried girl less than twenty years old is unable to endure cold and heat; hunger and thirst; contact with horseflies, mosquitoes, wind, the burning sun, and creeping animals and insects; rude and unwelcome speech; Ūnavīsativassā, bhikkhave, kumāribhūtā akkhamā hoti sītassa uṇhassa …pe… and she’s unable to bear up with bodily feelings that are painful, severe, sharp, and destructive of life. pāṇaharānaṁ anadhivāsakajātikā hoti. But an unmarried girl who is twenty years old is able to endure these things. Vīsativassāva kho, bhikkhave, kumāribhūtā khamā hoti sītassa uṇhassa …pe… pāṇaharānaṁ adhivāsakajātikā hoti. 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—
Final ruling
‘If a nun gives the full admission to an unmarried girl who is less than twenty years old, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī ūnavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ vuṭṭhāpeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
Definitions
- A: Yā panāti
- whoever … yā yādisā …pe…
- Nun: bhikkhunīti
- … The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case. …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.
- Who is less than twenty years old: Ūnavīsativassā nāma
- who has not reached twenty years of age. appattavīsativassā.
- An unmarried girl: Kumāribhūtā nāma
- a novice nun is what is meant. sāmaṇerī vuccati.
- Gives the full admission: Vuṭṭhāpeyyāti
- gives the full ordination. upasampādeyya. If, intending to give the full admission, she searches for a group, a teacher, a bowl, or a robe, or she establishes a monastery zone, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. “Vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti gaṇaṁ vā ācariniṁ vā pattaṁ vā cīvaraṁ vā pariyesati, sīmaṁ vā sammannati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ. After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā. When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing confession, Kammavācāpariyosāne upajjhāyāya āpatti pācittiyassa. and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct. Gaṇassa ca ācariniyā ca āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Permutations
If the girl is less than twenty years old, and the nun perceives her as less, and she gives her the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession. Ūnavīsativassāya ūnavīsativassasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the girl is less than twenty years old, but the nun is unsure of it, and she gives her the full admission, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ūnavīsativassāya vematikā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the girl is less than twenty years old, but the nun perceives her as more, and she gives her the full admission, there is no offense. Ūnavīsativassāya paripuṇṇasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, anāpatti.
If the girl is more than twenty years old, but the nun perceives her as less, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Paripuṇṇavīsativassāya ūnavīsativassasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the girl is more than twenty years old, but the nun is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Paripuṇṇavīsativassāya vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the girl is more than twenty years old, and the nun perceives her as more, there is no offense. Paripuṇṇavīsativassāya paripuṇṇasaññā, anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she gives the full admission to a girl less than twenty years old, but she perceives her as more; ūnavīsativassaṁ paripuṇṇasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, if she gives the full admission to a girl more than twenty years old, and she perceives her as more; paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ paripuṇṇasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The first training rule is finished. Paṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.