[409] 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 a maiden (kumārībhūtā) who had completed twenty years of age and had trained for two years in the six dhammas, but who had not been agreed upon by the Saṅgha. The bhikkhunīs would say: "Come, sikkhamānās, find out about this, give this, bring this, there is need of this, make this allowable (kappiya)." They replied: "Ladies, we are not sikkhamānās; we are bhikkhunīs."
Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … criticized, complained, and spread it about: "How can bhikkhunīs ordain a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas, but who has not been agreed upon by the Saṅgha?" … "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that bhikkhunīs are ordaining a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas, but who has not been agreed upon by the Saṅgha?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How, bhikkhus, can bhikkhunīs ordain a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas, but who has not been agreed upon by the Saṅgha? This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence …" Having rebuked them and given a talk on the Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus:
"I allow, bhikkhus, the giving of the agreement for ordination (vuṭṭhānasammuti) to a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas. And thus, bhikkhus, should it be given:
"That maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas, having approached the Saṅgha, having arranged her upper robe over one shoulder, having paid homage at the feet of the bhikkhunīs, having sat down on her heels and raised her joined palms, should say thus: 'Ladies, I, named so-and-so, [pupil] of the lady named so-and-so, a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas, ask the Saṅgha for the agreement for ordination.' A second time also it should be asked; a third time also it should be asked.
"The Saṅgha should be informed by a competent and capable bhikkhunī: 'Ladies, let the Saṅgha hear me. This one, named so-and-so, [pupil] of the lady named so-and-so, a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas, asks the Saṅgha for the agreement for ordination. If it seems right to the Saṅgha, let the Saṅgha give the agreement for ordination to so-and-so, a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas. This is the motion.
"'Ladies, let the Saṅgha hear me. This one, named so-and-so, [pupil] of the lady named so-and-so, a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas, asks the Saṅgha for the agreement for ordination. The Saṅgha gives the agreement for ordination to so-and-so, a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas. Whichever lady approves of the giving of the agreement for ordination to so-and-so, a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas, she should be silent; whichever lady does not approve, she should speak.
"'The agreement for ordination has been given by the Saṅgha to so-and-so, a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas. It is approved by the Saṅgha; therefore it is silent. Thus do I hold it.'"
Then the Blessed One, having rebuked those bhikkhunīs in many ways for their being difficult to support …: "And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule: Should any bhikkhunī ordain a maiden who has completed twenty years of age and has trained for two years in the six dhammas, but who has not been agreed upon by the Saṅgha, it is an offense entailing expiation (pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.