Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. a brahmin who had earned money by working for the king thought, “I’ll ask for my wages.” After washing his hair, he walked past the nuns’ dwelling place on his way to the king’s residence. Tena kho pana samayena aññataro brāhmaṇo nibbiṭṭharājabhaṭo “taññeva bhaṭapathaṁ yācissāmī”ti sīsaṁ nahāyitvā bhikkhunupassayaṁ nissāya rājakulaṁ gacchati. Just then, after defecating in a pot, a nun disposed of the feces over a wall, and it landed on the head of that brahmin. Aññatarā bhikkhunī kaṭāhe vaccaṁ katvā tirokuṭṭe chaḍḍentī tassa brāhmaṇassa matthake āsumbhi. He complained and criticized the nuns, Atha kho so brāhmaṇo ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“They’re not monastics, these shaven-headed sluts! “assamaṇiyo imā muṇḍā bandhakiniyo. How can they dump shit on my head? Kathañhi nāma gūthakaṭāhaṁ matthake āsumbhissanti. I’m gonna burn their place down!” Imāsaṁ upassayaṁ jhāpessāmī”ti. And he got hold of a firebrand and entered their dwelling place. Ummukaṁ gahetvā upassayaṁ pavisati. Just then a lay follower who was coming out from the nuns’ dwelling place saw that brahmin with a firebrand on his way in, Aññataro upāsako upassayā nikkhamanto addasa taṁ brāhmaṇaṁ ummukaṁ gahetvā upassayaṁ pavisantaṁ. and he said to him, Disvāna taṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavoca—“Sir, why are you entering the nuns’ dwelling place with a firebrand?” “kissa tvaṁ, bho, ummukaṁ gahetvā upassayaṁ pavisasī”ti?

“These shaven-headed sluts dumped shit on my head. “Imā maṁ, bho, muṇḍā bandhakiniyo gūthakaṭāhaṁ matthake āsumbhiṁsu. I’m gonna burn their place down!” Imāsaṁ upassayaṁ jhāpessāmī”ti.

“But this is auspicious, brahmin! “Gaccha, bho brāhmaṇa, maṅgalaṁ etaṁ. You’ll get your wages and a thousand coins in addition.” Sahassaṁ lacchasi tañca bhaṭapathan”ti.

That brahmin then washed his hair, went to the king’s residence, and he got his wages and a thousand coins in addition. Atha kho so brāhmaṇo sīsaṁ nahāyitvā rājakulaṁ gantvā sahassaṁ alattha tañca bhaṭapathaṁ.

But that lay follower returned to the nuns’ dwelling place, told them what had happened, and then scolded them. Atha kho so upāsako upassayaṁ pavisitvā bhikkhunīnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocetvā paribhāsi. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns dispose of feces over a wall?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo uccāraṁ tirokuṭṭe chaḍḍessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo uccāraṁ tirokuṭṭe chaḍḍentī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them, Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can nuns dispose of feces over a wall? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo uccāraṁ tirokuṭṭe chaḍḍessanti. 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—