[401] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time bhikkhunīs were ordaining (vuṭṭhāpenti) a maiden (kumārībhūtā) less than twenty years of age. Those women were unable to endure cold and heat, hunger and thirst, the touch of gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping creatures; and abusive, unwelcome ways of speech, and arisen bodily feelings (vedanā) that are painful, racking, sharp, piercing, disagreeable, displeasing, and life-threatening — they were not by nature able to bear them.
Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … they complained, criticized, and spread it about: "How can bhikkhunīs ordain a maiden less than twenty years of age?" …
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that bhikkhunīs are ordaining a maiden less than twenty years of age?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How, bhikkhus, can bhikkhunīs ordain a maiden less than twenty years of age? For, bhikkhus, a maiden less than twenty years of age is unable to endure cold and heat … life-threatening — she is not by nature able to bear them. But a maiden of twenty years, bhikkhus, is able to endure cold and heat … life-threatening — she is by nature able to bear them. This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule (sikkhāpada):
"Should any bhikkhunī ordain a maiden less than twenty years of age, there is an offense of pācittiya."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.