Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
The chapter on training Sekhiyakaṇḍa
The subchapter on shoes Pādukavagga

the training rule on defecating in water 75. Udakeuccārasikkhāpada

Origin story

First sub-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 from the group of six were defecating, urinating, and spitting in water. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karonti. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns defecate, urinate, and spit in water? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”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, tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the nuns from the group of six defecate, urinate, and spit in water?” “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karissantī”ti. The nuns told the monks, Atha kho bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. who in turn told the Buddha. Bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered Atha kho bhagavā …pe… and questioned the monks: bhikkhū paṭipucchi—“Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karontī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can the nuns from the group of six do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karissanti. 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—

Preliminary ruling

‘“I will not defecate, urinate, or spit in water,” this is how you should train.’” “Na udake uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā karissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the nuns. Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhunīnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards, being afraid of wrongdoing, sick nuns did not defecate, urinate, or spit in water. Tena kho pana samayena gilānā bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi kātuṁ kukkuccāyanti. They told the Buddha. He then had the Sangha gathered and addressed the monks: Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

“Monks, I allow a sick nun to defecate, urinate, and spit in water. anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānāya bhikkhuniyā udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi kātuṁ.

And so, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: Evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

Final ruling

‘“When not sick, I will not defecate, urinate, or spit in water,” this is how you should train.’” “Na udake agilānā uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā karissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.

If one is not sick, one should not defecate, urinate, or spit in water. Na udake agilānāya uccāro vā passāvo vā kheḷo vā kātabbo. If, out of disrespect, a nun who is not sick defecates, urinates, or spits in water, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Yā anādariyaṁ paṭicca udake agilānā uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā karoti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if it is unintentional; asañcicca, if she is not mindful; assatiyā, if she does not know; ajānantiyā, if she is sick; gilānāya, if she does it on dry ground, but it then spreads to water; thale kato udakaṁ ottharati, if there is an emergency; āpadāsu, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is deranged; khittacittāya, if she is overwhelmed by pain; vedanāṭṭāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.

The fifteenth training rule is finished. Pannarasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The seventh subchapter on shoes is finished. Pādukavaggo sattamo.

“Venerables, the rules to be trained in have been recited. Uddiṭṭhā kho, ayyāyo, sekhiyā dhammā. In regard to this I ask you, Tatthāyyāyo pucchāmi—‘Are you pure in this?’ “kaccittha parisuddhā”? A second time I ask, Dutiyampi pucchāmi—‘Are you pure in this?’ “kaccittha parisuddhā”? A third time I ask, Tatiyampi pucchāmi—‘Are you pure in this?’ “kaccittha parisuddhā”? You are pure in this and therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.” Parisuddhetthāyyāyo, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmīti.

The chapter on training is finished. Sekhiyakaṇḍaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

English Translation

Pāli Text

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law
The Nuns’ Analysis
The chapter on training
The subchapter on shoes

the training rule on defecating in water

Origin story

First sub-story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the nuns from the group of six were defecating, urinating, and spitting in water. People complained and criticized them, “How can nuns defecate, urinate, and spit in water? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”

The nuns heard the complaints of those people, and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can the nuns from the group of six defecate, urinate, and spit in water?” The nuns told the monks, who in turn told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: “Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?”

“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them … “How can the nuns from the group of six do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Preliminary ruling

‘“I will not defecate, urinate, or spit in water,” this is how you should train.’”

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the nuns.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards, being afraid of wrongdoing, sick nuns did not defecate, urinate, or spit in water. They told the Buddha. He then had the Sangha gathered and addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow a sick nun to defecate, urinate, and spit in water.

And so, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘“When not sick, I will not defecate, urinate, or spit in water,” this is how you should train.’”

If one is not sick, one should not defecate, urinate, or spit in water. If, out of disrespect, a nun who is not sick defecates, urinates, or spits in water, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if it is unintentional; if she is not mindful; if she does not know; if she is sick; if she does it on dry ground, but it then spreads to water; if there is an emergency; if she is insane; if she is deranged; if she is overwhelmed by pain; if she is the first offender.

The fifteenth training rule is finished.

The seventh subchapter on shoes is finished.

“Venerables, the rules to be trained in have been recited. In regard to this I ask you, ‘Are you pure in this?’ A second time I ask, ‘Are you pure in this?’ A third time I ask, ‘Are you pure in this?’ You are pure in this and therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.”

The chapter on training is finished.

Theravāda Vinaya
Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
Sekhiyakaṇḍa
Pādukavagga

75. Udakeuccārasikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karonti. Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.

Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā, tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karissantī”ti. Atha kho bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Atha kho bhagavā …pe… bhikkhū paṭipucchi—“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karontī”ti?

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karissanti. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

“Na udake uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā karissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.

Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhunīnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

Tena kho pana samayena gilānā bhikkhuniyo udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi kātuṁ kukkuccāyanti. Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānāya bhikkhuniyā udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi kātuṁ.

Evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

“Na udake agilānā uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā karissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.

Na udake agilānāya uccāro vā passāvo vā kheḷo vā kātabbo. Yā anādariyaṁ paṭicca udake agilānā uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā karoti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Anāpatti—asañcicca, assatiyā, ajānantiyā, gilānāya, thale kato udakaṁ ottharati, āpadāsu, ummattikāya, khittacittāya, vedanāṭṭāya, ādikammikāyāti.

Pannarasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

Pādukavaggo sattamo.

Uddiṭṭhā kho, ayyāyo, sekhiyā dhammā. Tatthāyyāyo pucchāmi—“kaccittha parisuddhā”? Dutiyampi pucchāmi—“kaccittha parisuddhā”? Tatiyampi pucchāmi—“kaccittha parisuddhā”? Parisuddhetthāyyāyo, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmīti.

Sekhiyakaṇḍaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
The chapter on training Sekhiyakaṇḍa
The subchapter on shoes Pādukavagga

the training rule on defecating in water 75. Udakeuccārasikkhāpada

Origin story

First sub-story

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

Preliminary ruling

‘“I will not defecate, urinate, or spit in water,” this is how you should train.’” “Na udake uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā karissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the nuns. Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhunīnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

Second sub-story

“Monks, I allow a sick nun to defecate, urinate, and spit in water. anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānāya bhikkhuniyā udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi kātuṁ.

And so, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: Evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

Final ruling

Non-offenses

The fifteenth training rule is finished. Pannarasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The seventh subchapter on shoes is finished. Pādukavaggo sattamo.

The chapter on training is finished. Sekhiyakaṇḍaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.