Cīvaradāna

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Naggavagga

The subchapter on nakedness

28. Cīvaradānasikkhāpada

Giving a robe to a non-monastic

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 thullanandā bhikkhunī naṭānampi naṭakānampi laṅghakānampi sokajjhāyikānampi kumbhathūṇikānampi samaṇacīvaraṁ deti—

At that time the nun Thullanandā was giving monastic robes to actors, dancers, acrobats, magicians, and musicians, saying,

“mayhaṁ parisati vaṇṇaṁ bhāsathā”ti.

“Please praise me in public.”

Naṭāpi naṭakāpi laṅghakāpi sokajjhāyikāpi kumbhathūṇikāpi thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā parisati vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti—

And they did:

“ayyā thullanandā bahussutā bhāṇikā visāradā paṭṭā dhammiṁ kathaṁ kātuṁ;

“Venerable Thullanandā is a learned reciter; she’s confident and skilled at giving teachings.

detha ayyāya, karotha ayyāyā”ti.

Give to her; work for her!”

Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā … tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ dassatī”ti …pe…

“How can Venerable Thullanandā give monastic robes to householders?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ detī”ti?

“Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā does this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked her …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ dassati.

“How can the nun Thullanandā do this?

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

“Yā pana bhikkhunī agārikassa vā paribbājakassa vā paribbājikāya vā samaṇacīvaraṁ dadeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun gives a monastic robe to a householder or a male wanderer or a female wanderer, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

Yā panāti

A:

yā yādisā …pe…

whoever …

bhikkhunīti

Nun:

…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.

… The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case.

Agāriko nāma

A householder:

yo koci agāraṁ ajjhāvasati.

anyone who lives at home.

Paribbājako nāma

A male wanderer:

bhikkhuñca sāmaṇerañca ṭhapetvā yo koci paribbājakasamāpanno.

any male wanderer apart from Buddhist monks and novice monks.

Paribbājikā nāma

A female wanderer:

bhikkhuniñca sikkhamānañca sāmaṇeriñca ṭhapetvā yā kāci paribbājikasamāpannā.

any female wanderer apart from Buddhist nuns, trainee nuns, and novice nuns.

Samaṇacīvaraṁ nāma

A monastic robe:

kappakataṁ vuccati.

a mark has been made is what is meant.

Deti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she gives it away, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

mātāpitūnaṁ deti,

if she gives one to her mother or father;

tāvakālikaṁ deti,

if she lends one out;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Aṭṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The eighth training rule is finished.