Gabbhinī

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Gabbhinivagga

The subchapter on pregnant women

61. Gabbhinisikkhāpada

Ordaining a pregnant woman

Origin story

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,

Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpenti.

the nuns gave the full admission to a pregnant woman.

Sā piṇḍāya carati.

When she walked for alms,

Manussā evamāhaṁsu—

people said,

“dethāyyāya bhikkhaṁ, garubhārā ayyā”ti.

“Give almsfood to the venerable. She’s carrying a heavy burden.”

Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

People complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti.

“How could the nuns give the full admission to a pregnant woman?”

Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ.

The nuns heard the complaints of those people

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

and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe…

“How could nuns do this?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpentī”ti?

“Is it true, monks, that nuns did this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked them …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpessanti.

“How could nuns 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 gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun gives the full admission to a pregnant woman, 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.

Gabbhinī nāma

A pregnant woman:

āpannasattā vuccati.

a woman with child is what is meant.

Vuṭṭhāpeyyāti

Gives the full admission:

upasampādeyya.

gives the full ordination.

“Vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti gaṇaṁ vā ācariniṁ vā pattaṁ vā cīvaraṁ vā pariyesati, sīmaṁ vā sammannati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If, intending to give the full admission, she searches for a group, a teacher, a bowl, or a robe, or she establishes a monastery zone, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ.

After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā.

After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Kammavācāpariyosāne upajjhāyāya āpatti pācittiyassa.

When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing confession,

Gaṇassa ca ācariniyā ca āpatti dukkaṭassa.

and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct.

Permutations

Gabbhiniyā gabbhinisaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If the woman is pregnant, and the nun perceives her as such, yet she gives her the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Gabbhiniyā vematikā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If the woman is pregnant, but the nun is unsure of it, yet she gives her the full admission, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Gabbhiniyā agabbhinisaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, anāpatti.

If the woman is pregnant, but the nun does not perceive her as such, and she gives her the full admission, there is no offense.

Agabbhiniyā gabbhinisaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If the woman is not pregnant, but the nun perceives her as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Agabbhiniyā vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If the woman is not pregnant, but the nun is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Agabbhiniyā agabbhinisaññā, anāpatti.

If the woman is not pregnant, and the nun does not perceive her as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

gabbhiniṁ agabbhinisaññā vuṭṭhāpeti,

if she gives the full admission to a woman who is pregnant, but she does not perceive her as such;

agabbhiniṁ agabbhinisaññā vuṭṭhāpeti,

if she gives the full admission to a woman who is not pregnant, and she does not perceive her as such;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Paṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The first training rule is finished.