Nuns’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 74

^{Bi-Pc.74.1.1 BD.3.384} … at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time nuns ordained while they were less than twelve years (of standing).^[1] They were ignorant, inexperienced, they did not know what was allowable or what was not allowable; moreover, the women who’ shared their cells were ignorant, inexperienced, they did not know what was allowable or what was not allowable. Those who were modest nuns … spread it about, saying: “How can these nuns ordain while they are less than twelve years (of standing)?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that nuns … less than twelve years (of standing)?”

“It is true, lord.”

The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying:

“How, monks, can nuns … less than twelve years (of standing)? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:

“Whatever nun should ordain while she is less than twelve years (of standing) there is an offence of expiation.”

---

^Bi-Pc.74.2.1 Whatever means: … nun is to be understood in this case.

Less than twelve years means: not attained to twelve years.

Should ordain means: … Bi-Pc.61.2.1 … offence of wrong-doing for the group and for the woman teacher.

---

^Bi-Pc.74.2.2 There is no offence if she ordains when she has completed twelve years (of standing); if she is mad, if she is the first wrong-doer. ^Vin.4.330

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

ūnadvādasavassā, probably to be taken as nominative plural agreeing with bhikkhuniyo, and meaning less than twelve years from their own ordination. See next two Pācittiyas, and BD.3, Introduction, p.lii.