37. Antoraṭṭhasikkhāpada
Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo antoraṭṭhe sāsaṅkasammate sappaṭibhaye asatthikā cārikaṁ caranti. Dhuttā dūsenti. Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo antoraṭṭhe sāsaṅkasammate sappaṭibhaye asatthikā cārikaṁ carissantī”ti …pe… “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo antoraṭṭhe sāsaṅkasammate sappaṭibhaye asatthikā cārikaṁ carantī”ti? “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti. Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo antoraṭṭhe sāsaṅkasammate sappaṭibhaye asatthikā cārikaṁ carissanti. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
Wandering within the country Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the nuns went wandering without a group of travelers where it was considered risky and dangerous within their own country. Scoundrels raped them. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can nuns go wandering without a group of travelers where it’s considered risky and dangerous within their own country?” … “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “How can nuns do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: