Nuns’ Forfeiture (Nissaggiya) 5 (PLI-TV-BI-VB-NP5)

… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the nun Thullanandā came to be ill. Then a certain lay-follower approached the nun Thullanandā; having approached, he spoke thus to the nun Thullanandā: “I hope, lady, that you are better, I hope that you are keeping going.”

“Sir, I am not better, I am not keeping going.”

“Lady, I will deposit a kahāpaṇa in the house of such and such a shopkeeper; you can have whatever you want brought from there.”

The nun Thullanandā enjoined a certain probationer, saying: “Go, probationer, fetch oil for the kahāpaṇa from the house of such and such a shopkeeper.”

Then that probationer, having for the kahāpaṇa fetched oil from the house of that shopkeeper, gave it to the nun Thullanandā. The nun Thullanandā said: “I do not need oil, probationer, I need ghee.” Then that probationer approached that shopkeeper; having approached, she spoke thus to that shopkeeper:

“The lady says that she does not need oil, sir, she needs ghee. You take the oil (and) give me the ghee.”

“If we, lady, take back again goods that were bought, when will our goods be sold? Oil was taken owing to the purchase of oil; give for the purchase of ghee (and) you shall take ghee.”

Then that probationer stood crying. Nuns spoke thus to that probationer: “Why are you crying, probationer?” Then that probationer told this matter to the nuns. Those who were modest nuns … spread it about, saying:

“How can the lady Thullanandā, having got one thing in exchange, get another thing in exchange?”

“Is it true, as is said, monks, … see Bi-NP.4.1. Instead of having had asked for, etc., read having got in exchange … rule of training:

“Whatever nun, having got one thing in exchange, should get another thing in exchange, there is an offence of expiation involving forfeiture.”

Whatever means: … nun is to be understood in this case.

Having got one thing in exchange means: having got anything whatever in exchange … see Bi-NP.4.2. Instead of has asked for, having had asked for read gets in exchange, having got in exchange

… if she is the first wrong-doer.

The Book of the Discipline was translated by I.B. Horner.

Digital edition prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato

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Published in 2014 by SuttaCentral.

Originally published by the Pali Text Society in the following years:

Vol. 1: 1938

Vol. 2: 1940

Vol. 3: 1942

Vol. 4: 1951

Vol. 5: 1950

Vol. 6: 1966

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