[380] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time bhikkhunīs were giving ordination to married girls (gihigatā) less than twelve years of age. Those girls were unable to endure cold, heat, hunger, and thirst; contact with gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping creatures; they were not the kind to bear ill-spoken, unwelcome ways of speech, or arisen bodily feelings (vedanā) that are painful, racking, sharp, piercing, disagreeable, displeasing, and life-threatening.
Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … complained, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can bhikkhunīs give ordination to a married girl less than twelve years of age?" …
"Is it true, bhikkhus, as they say, that bhikkhunīs are giving ordination to married girls less than twelve years of age?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "Bhikkhus, how can bhikkhunīs give ordination to a married girl less than twelve years of age? For, bhikkhus, a married girl less than twelve years of age is unable to endure cold, heat, hunger, and thirst; contact with gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping creatures; she is not the kind to bear ill-spoken, unwelcome ways of speech, or arisen bodily feelings that are painful, racking, sharp, piercing, disagreeable, displeasing, and life-threatening. But, bhikkhus, a married girl of twelve years of age is able to endure cold, heat, hunger, and thirst; contact with gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping creatures; she is the kind to bear ill-spoken, unwelcome ways of speech, and arisen bodily feelings that are painful, racking, sharp, piercing, disagreeable, displeasing, and life-threatening. Bhikkhus, this will not conduce to the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Should any bhikkhunī give ordination to a married girl less than twelve years of age, there is an offense of expiation (pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.