Nuns’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 2 (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC2)

… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six nuns, haying let the hair of the body grow, bathed naked together with prostitutes at the same ford of the river Aciravatī. The prostitutes … spread it about, saying: “How can these nuns let the hair of the body grow, like women householders who enjoy pleasures of the senses?” Nuns heard these prostitutes who … spread it about. Those who were modest nuns … spread it about, saying: “How can this group of six nuns let the hair of the body grow?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that the group of six nuns let the hair of the body grow?”

“It is true, lord.”

The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them saying:

“How, monks, can the group of six nuns let the hair of the body grow? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:

“Whatever nun should let the hair of the body grow, there is an offence of expiation.”

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

Hair of the body means: under both armpits and on the private parts.

Should let grow means: if she lets one hair grow, there is an offence of expiation. If she lets many hairs grow, there is an offence of expiation.

There is no offence if it is because of illness, if she is mad, 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

A complete digital edition can be downloaded here.

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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