Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.51 6.

Gotamīsutta

Gotamīvagga Gotamīsutta Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

At one time, the Blessed One was staying among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Monastery.

Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī approached the Blessed One; having approached, she paid homage to the Blessed One and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

Standing to one side, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said to the Blessed One, It would be good, venerable sir, if women could obtain the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.

“Alaṁ, gotami.

Enough, Gotamī.

Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.

Do not let it please you that women should obtain the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.

Dutiyampi kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

For the second time, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said to the Blessed One, It would be good, venerable sir, if women could obtain the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.

“Alaṁ, gotami.

Enough, Gotamī.

Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.

Do not let it please you that women should obtain the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.

Tatiyampi kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

For the third time, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said to the Blessed One, It would be good, venerable sir, if women could obtain the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.

“Alaṁ, gotami.

Enough, Gotamī.

Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.

Do not let it please you that women should obtain the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.

Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī “na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, thinking, The Blessed One does not allow women to obtain the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, sorrowful and downcast, with tearful face and weeping, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and departed.

Atha kho bhagavā kapilavatthusmiṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena vesālī tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi.

Then the Blessed One, having stayed at Kapilavatthu as long as he liked, set out on a wandering tour towards Vesālī.

Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena vesālī tadavasari.

Wandering by stages, he eventually arrived at Vesālī.

Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

There the Blessed One stayed at Vesālī in the Great Wood, in the Hall with the Peaked Roof.

Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī kese chedāpetvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā sambahulāhi sākiyānīhi saddhiṁ yena vesālī tena pakkāmi.

Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, having had her hair cut off and donned ochre robes, set out for Vesālī with a large number of Sākyan women.

Anupubbena yena vesālī mahāvanaṁ kūṭāgārasālā tenupasaṅkami.

Wandering by stages, she eventually arrived at Vesālī, at the Great Wood, at the Hall with the Peaked Roof.

Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bahidvārakoṭṭhake aṭṭhāsi.

Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, with swollen feet, covered with dust, sorrowful and downcast, with tearful face and weeping, stood outside the entrance porch.

Addasā kho āyasmā ānando mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhiṁ dummanaṁ assumukhiṁ rudamānaṁ bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitaṁ.

The Venerable Ānanda saw Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī with swollen feet, covered with dust, sorrowful and downcast, with tearful face and weeping, standing outside the entrance porch.

Disvāna mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca: “kiṁ nu tvaṁ, gotami, sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitā”ti?

Seeing her, the Venerable Ānanda said to Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī...

Why are you standing here, Gotami, with swollen feet, body covered in dust, suffering, dejected, with tearful face, crying at the outer gate?

“Tathā hi pana, bhante ānanda, na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

Indeed, venerable Ananda, the Blessed One does not permit women to go forth from the household life to homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata.

“Tena hi tvaṁ, gotami, muhuttaṁ idheva tāva hohi, yāvāhaṁ bhagavantaṁ yācāmi mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

Then, Gotami, wait here for a moment while I ask the Blessed One about women going forth from the household life to homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then the venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “esā, bhante, mahāpajāpatī gotamī sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitā: ‘na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan’ti. Sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti. “Alaṁ, ānanda. Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.

Sitting to one side, the venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One:

Venerable sir, Mahapajapati Gotami is standing at the outer gate with swollen feet, body covered in dust, suffering, dejected, with tearful face, crying, saying, The Blessed One does not permit women to go forth from the household life to homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata.

Venerable sir, it would be good if women could go forth from the household life to homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata.

Dutiyampi kho …pe…

Enough, Ananda.

tatiyampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

Do not let it please you that women should go forth from the household life to homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata.

“Alaṁ, ānanda.

For the second time...

Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.

For the third time, the venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One:

Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi: “na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ.

Venerable sir, it would be good if women could go forth from the household life to homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata.

Enough, Ananda.

Yannūnāhaṁ aññenapi pariyāyena bhagavantaṁ yāceyyaṁ mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

Do not let it please you that women should go forth from the household life to homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “bhabbo nu kho, bhante, mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā sotāpattiphalaṁ vā sakadāgāmiphalaṁ vā anāgāmiphalaṁ vā arahattaphalaṁ vā sacchikātun”ti? “Bhabbo, ānanda, mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā sotāpattiphalampi sakadāgāmiphalampi anāgāmiphalampi arahattaphalampi sacchikātun”ti. “Sace, bhante, bhabbo mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā sotāpattiphalampi …pe…

Then it occurred to the venerable Ananda:

The Blessed One does not permit women to go forth from the household life to homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata. What if I were to ask the Blessed One in another way about women going forth from the household life to homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata?

Then the venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: Venerable sir, how is it that women have received the going forth from home into homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata?

arahattaphalampi sacchikātuṁ; bahukārā, bhante, mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavato mātucchā āpādikā posikā khīrassa dāyikā; bhagavantaṁ janettiyā kālaṅkatāya thaññaṁ pāyesi.

If they had not received it, the holy life would have lasted long, the true doctrine would have endured for a thousand years.

Sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti. “Sace, ānanda, mahāpajāpatī gotamī aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇhāti, sāvassā hotu upasampadā— Vassasatūpasampannāya bhikkhuniyā tadahūpasampannassa bhikkhuno abhivādanaṁ paccuṭṭhānaṁ añjalikammaṁ sāmīcikammaṁ kattabbaṁ.

But since, Ananda, women have received the going forth from home into homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata, the holy life will not last long. Now, Ananda, the true doctrine will endure only for five hundred years.

Just as, Ananda, families with many women and few men are easily overpowered by robbers and bandits;

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo. Na bhikkhuniyā abhikkhuke āvāse vassaṁ upagantabbaṁ.

In the same way, Ananda, in any doctrine and discipline where women receive the going forth from home into homelessness, the holy life does not last long.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

Just as, Ananda, a field of rice that is infested with white bones disease does not last long;

Anvaḍḍhamāsaṁ bhikkhuniyā bhikkhusaṅghato dve dhammā paccāsīsitabbā— uposathapucchakañca, ovādūpasaṅkamanañca.

In the same way, Ananda, in any doctrine and discipline where women receive the going forth from home into homelessness, the holy life does not last long.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

Just as, Ananda, a sugarcane field that is infested with red rot disease does not last long;

Vassaṁvuṭṭhāya bhikkhuniyā ubhatosaṅghe tīhi ṭhānehi pavāretabbaṁ— diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā.

In the same way, Ananda, in any doctrine and discipline where women receive the going forth from home into homelessness, the holy life does not last long.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo. Garudhammaṁ ajjhāpannāya bhikkhuniyā ubhatosaṅghe pakkhamānattaṁ caritabbaṁ.

Just so, Ānanda, in whatever doctrine and discipline women obtain the going forth from home into homelessness, that holy life does not last long.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

Just as, Ānanda, a man would build a dam in a great reservoir to prevent the water from overflowing;

Dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya ubhatosaṅghe upasampadā pariyesitabbā.

Even so, Ānanda, have I laid down these eight important rules for the nuns, not to be transgressed as long as they live.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo. Na kenaci pariyāyena bhikkhuniyā bhikkhu akkositabbo paribhāsitabbo. Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

Then, Venerable Ānanda, having learned these eight Garudhammas from the Blessed One, approached Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī and said to her, If you, Gotamī, accept these eight Garudhammas, let that be your ordination:

Ajjatagge ovaṭo bhikkhunīnaṁ bhikkhūsu vacanapatho, anovaṭo bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīsu vacanapatho. Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

A disciple who has been ordained on the same day as a nun endowed with the full ordination must show respect by greeting, standing up, making anjali, and performing proper duties.

Sace, ānanda, mahāpajāpatī gotamī ime aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇhāti, sāvassā hotu upasampadā”ti.

This rule, too, must be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and must not be transgressed for life.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato santike ime aṭṭha garudhamme uggahetvā yena mahāpajāpatī gotamī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca: “Sace kho tvaṁ, gotami, aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇheyyāsi, sāva te bhavissati upasampadā— Vassasatūpasampannāya bhikkhuniyā tadahūpasampannassa bhikkhuno abhivādanaṁ paccuṭṭhānaṁ añjalikammaṁ sāmīcikammaṁ kattabbaṁ. Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo …pe…. Ajjatagge ovaṭo bhikkhunīnaṁ bhikkhūsu vacanapatho, anovaṭo bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīsu vacanapatho.

From today onwards, the nuns must receive instructions from the disciples, but the disciples do not need to receive instructions from the nuns.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

This rule, too, must be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and must not be transgressed for life.

Sace kho tvaṁ, gotami, ime aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇheyyāsi, sāva te bhavissati upasampadā”ti.

If you, Gotami, accept these eight important rules, your ordination will be valid.

“Seyyathāpi, bhante ānanda, itthī vā puriso vā daharo yuvā maṇḍanakajātiko sīsaṁnhāto uppalamālaṁ vā vassikamālaṁ vā adhimuttakamālaṁ vā labhitvā ubhohi hatthehi paṭiggahetvā uttamaṅge sirasmiṁ patiṭṭhāpeyya; evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante ānanda, ime aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇhāmi yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīye”ti.

Just as, venerable Ananda, a young woman or man, fond of adornments, having washed their head, would take a garland of blue lotuses, or jasmine, or another kind of flower, and place it on the top of their head with both hands;

In the same way, venerable Ananda, I accept these eight important rules, which must not be transgressed for life.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then the venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “paṭiggahitā, bhante, mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā aṭṭha garudhammā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyā”ti.

Sitting to one side, the venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One:

Venerable sir, Mahapajapati Gotami has accepted the eight important rules, which must not be transgressed for life.

“Sace, ānanda, nālabhissa mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, ciraṭṭhitikaṁ, ānanda, brahmacariyaṁ abhavissa, vassasahassameva saddhammo tiṭṭheyya.

If, Ananda, women had not received the going forth from home into homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata, the holy life would have lasted long, the true doctrine would have endured for a thousand years.

Yato ca kho, ānanda, mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito, na dāni, ānanda, brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ bhavissati.

But since, Ananda, women have received the going forth from home into homelessness in the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata, the holy life will not last long.

Pañceva dāni, ānanda, vassasatāni saddhammo ṭhassati.

Now, Ananda, the true doctrine will endure only for five hundred years.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, yāni kānici kulāni bahutthikāni appapurisakāni, tāni suppadhaṁsiyāni honti corehi kumbhatthenakehi; evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, yasmiṁ dhammavinaye labhati mātugāmo agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, na taṁ brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti.

Just as, Ananda, families with many women and few men are easily overpowered by robbers and bandits;

In the same way, Ananda, in any doctrine and discipline where women receive the going forth from home into homelessness, the holy life does not last long.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, sampanne sālikkhette setaṭṭhikā nāma rogajāti nipatati, evaṁ taṁ sālikkhettaṁ na ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti; evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, yasmiṁ dhammavinaye labhati mātugāmo agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, na taṁ brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti.

Just as, Ananda, a field of rice that is infested with white bones disease does not last long;

In the same way, Ananda, in any doctrine and discipline where women receive the going forth from home into homelessness, the holy life does not last long.

Just as, Ananda, a sugarcane field that is infested with red rot disease does not last long;

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, sampanne ucchukkhette mañjiṭṭhikā nāma rogajāti nipatati, evaṁ taṁ ucchukkhettaṁ na ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti; evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, yasmiṁ dhammavinaye labhati mātugāmo agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, na taṁ brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti.

In the same way, Ananda, in any doctrine and discipline where women receive the going forth from home into homelessness, the holy life does not last long.

Just so, Ānanda, in whatever doctrine and discipline women obtain the going forth from home into homelessness, that holy life does not last long.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, puriso mahato taḷākassa paṭikacceva āḷiṁ bandheyya yāvadeva udakassa anatikkamanāya; evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, mayā paṭikacceva bhikkhunīnaṁ aṭṭha garudhammā paññattā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyā”ti. Paṭhamaṁ.

Just as, Ānanda, a man would build a dam in a great reservoir to prevent the water from overflowing;

Even so, Ānanda, have I laid down these eight important rules for the nuns, not to be transgressed as long as they live.