Udakasāṭika

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Naggavagga

The subchapter on nakedness

22. Udakasāṭikasikkhāpada

Making an oversize bathing robe

Origin story

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavatā bhikkhunīnaṁ udakasāṭikā anuññātā hoti.

At that time the Buddha had allowed bathing robes for the nuns.

Chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo—

“bhagavatā udakasāṭikā anuññātā”ti appamāṇikāyo udakasāṭikāyo dhāresuṁ.

Knowing this, the nuns from the group of six wore bathing robes of inappropriate size.

Puratopi pacchatopi ākaḍḍhantā āhiṇḍanti.

As they were walking about, they were dragging them along, both in front and behind.

Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo appamāṇikāyo udakasāṭikāyo dhāressantī”ti …pe…

“How can the nuns from the group of six wear such bathing robes?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo appamāṇikāyo udakasāṭikāyo dhārentī”ti?

“Is it true, monks, that the nuns from the group of six do this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked them …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo appamāṇikāyo udakasāṭikāyo dhāressanti.

“How can the nuns from the group of six wear such bathing robes?

Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

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

Final ruling

“Udakasāṭikaṁ pana bhikkhuniyā kārayamānāya pamāṇikā kāretabbā. Tatridaṁ pamāṇaṁ—dīghaso catasso vidatthiyo, sugatavidatthiyā; tiriyaṁ dve vidatthiyo. Taṁ atikkāmentiyā chedanakaṁ pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun is having a bathing robe made, it should be made the right size. This is the right size: four standard handspans long and two wide. If it exceeds that, it is to be cut down, and she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

Udakasāṭikā nāma

A bathing robe:

yāya nivatthā nahāyati.

wearing it as a sarong, she bathes.

Kārayamānāyāti

Is having made:

karontiyā vā kārāpentiyā vā. Pamāṇikā kāretabbā.

making it herself or having someone else make it, it should be made the right size.

Tatridaṁ pamāṇaṁ— dīghaso catasso vidatthiyo, sugatavidatthiyā; tiriyaṁ dve vidatthiyo.

This is the right size: four standard handspans long and two wide.

Taṁ atikkāmetvā karoti vā kārāpeti vā, payoge dukkaṭaṁ.

If she makes one or has one made that exceeds that, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct.

Paṭilābhena chinditvā pācittiyaṁ desetabbaṁ.

When she gets it, it is to be cut down, and she is then to confess an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

Attanā vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she finishes what she began herself, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Attanā vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she has others finish what she began herself, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Parehi vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she finishes herself what was begun by others, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Parehi vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she has others finish what was begun by others, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Aññassatthāya karoti vā kārāpeti vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If she makes one or has one made for the benefit of someone else, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Aññena kataṁ paṭilabhitvā paribhuñjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If she gets one that was made by someone else and then uses it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

pamāṇikaṁ karoti,

if she makes it the right size;

ūnakaṁ karoti,

if she makes it smaller than the right size;

aññena kataṁ pamāṇātikkantaṁ paṭilabhitvā chinditvā paribhuñjati,

if she gets one made by someone else that exceeds the right size and she cuts it down before using it;

vitānaṁ vā bhūmattharaṇaṁ vā sāṇipākāraṁ vā bhisiṁ vā bibbohanaṁ vā karoti,

if she makes a canopy, a floor cover, a cloth screen, a mattress, or a pillow;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Dutiyasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The second training rule is finished.