17. Eḷakalomadhovāpanasikkhāpada
Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunīhi eḷakalomāni dhovāpentipi rajāpentipi vijaṭāpentipi. Bhikkhuniyo eḷakalomāni dhovantiyo rajantiyo vijaṭentiyo riñcanti uddesaṁ paripucchaṁ adhisīlaṁ adhicittaṁ adhipaññaṁ. Atha kho mahāpajāpati gotamī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ bhagavā etadavoca—“kacci, gotami, bhikkhuniyo appamattā ātāpiniyo pahitattā viharantī”ti? “Kuto, bhante, bhikkhunīnaṁ appamādo. Ayyā chabbaggiyā bhikkhunīhi eḷakalomāni dhovāpentipi rajāpentipi vijaṭāpentipi. Bhikkhuniyo eḷakalomāni dhovantiyo rajantiyo vijaṭentiyo riñcanti uddesaṁ paripucchaṁ adhisīlaṁ adhicittaṁ adhipaññan”ti. Atha kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi. Atha kho mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassitā samādapitā samuttejitā sampahaṁsitā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi. Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṅghaṁ sannipātāpetvā chabbaggiye bhikkhū paṭipucchi— “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunīhi eḷakalomāni dhovāpethapi rajāpethapi vijaṭāpethapī”ti? “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti. “Ñātikāyo tumhākaṁ, bhikkhave, aññātikāyo”ti? “Aññātikāyo, bhagavā”ti. “Aññātakā, moghapurisā, aññātikānaṁ na jānanti patirūpaṁ vā appatirūpaṁ vā pāsādikaṁ vā apāsādikaṁ vā. Tattha nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, aññātikāhi bhikkhunīhi eḷakalomāni dhovāpessathapi rajāpessathapi vijaṭāpessathapi. Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
Getting a nun to wash wool Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu. At that time the monks from the group of six had the nuns wash, dye, and comb wool. Because of this, the nuns neglected recitation, testing, the higher morality, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom. Mahāpajāpati Gotamī then went to the Buddha and bowed down to him. And the Buddha said to her, “Gotamī, I hope the nuns are heedful, energetic, and diligent?” “How could the nuns be heedful, venerable sir?” And she told him what was happening. The Buddha then instructed, inspired, and gladdened her with a teaching. She bowed down, circumambulated him with her right side toward him, and left. Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks from the group of six: “Is it true, monks, that you do this?” “It’s true, sir.” “Are they your relatives?” “No.” “Foolish men, people who are unrelated don’t know what’s appropriate and inappropriate, what’s inspiring and uninspiring, in dealing with each other. And still you do this. This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: