Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. the nun Thullanandā Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī—had gathered a group of senior monks, intending to give the full admission to a trainee nun. But after seeing much fresh and cooked food, she dismissed the senior monks, saying, “sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti there bhikkhū sannipātetvā pahūtaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ passitvā—“Venerables, I won’t give the full admission to the trainee nun just yet.” She then gathered Devadatta, Kokālika, Kaṭamodakatissaka, Khaṇḍadeviyāputta, and Samuddadatta, and gave the full admission to that trainee nun. “na tāvāhaṁ, ayyā, sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti there bhikkhū uyyojetvā devadattaṁ kokālikaṁ kaṭamodakatissakaṁ khaṇḍadeviyā puttaṁ samuddadattaṁ sannipātetvā sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpesi.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā give the full admission to a trainee nun when the given consent had expired?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā pārivāsikachandadānena sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpessatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī pārivāsikachandadānena sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpetī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could the nun Thullanandā do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī pārivāsikachandadānena sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpessati. 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—