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 two women per year, Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo ekaṁ vassaṁ dve vuṭṭhāpenti. and the nuns’ dwelling place still did not have sufficient capacity. Upassayo tatheva na sammati. People complained and criticized them, Manussā tatheva ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the nuns give the full admission to two women per year, “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo ekaṁ vassaṁ dve vuṭṭhāpessanti. when the nuns’ dwelling place still doesn’t have sufficient capacity?” Upassayo tatheva na sammatī”ti.

The nuns heard the complaints of those people. Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. 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 two women per year?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo ekaṁ vassaṁ dve vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo ekaṁ vassaṁ dve 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 ekaṁ vassaṁ dve 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—