28. Cīvaradānasikkhāpada
Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī naṭānampi naṭakānampi laṅghakānampi sokajjhāyikānampi kumbhathūṇikānampi samaṇacīvaraṁ deti— “mayhaṁ parisati vaṇṇaṁ bhāsathā”ti. Naṭāpi naṭakāpi laṅghakāpi sokajjhāyikāpi kumbhathūṇikāpi thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā parisati vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti— “ayyā thullanandā bahussutā bhāṇikā visāradā paṭṭā dhammiṁ kathaṁ kātuṁ; detha ayyāya, karotha ayyāyā”ti. Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā … tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ dassatī”ti …pe… “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ detī”ti? “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti. Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ dassati. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
Giving a robe to a non-monastic Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the nun Thullanandā was giving monastic robes to actors, dancers, acrobats, magicians, and musicians, saying, “Please praise me in public.” And they did: “Venerable Thullanandā is a learned reciter; she’s confident and skilled at giving teachings. Give to her; work for her!” The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How can Venerable Thullanandā give monastic robes to householders?” … “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā does this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked her … “How can the nun Thullanandā do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: