[515] Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī is standing outside at the gatehouse, her feet swollen, her limbs covered with dust, pained, dejected, her face tearful, weeping, [saying]: 'The Blessed One does not allow women the going forth (pabbajjā) from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.' It would be good, venerable sir, if women might obtain the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata."
"Enough, Ānanda. Do not favor the going forth of women from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata."
A second time the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "It would be good, venerable sir, if women might obtain the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata."
"Enough, Ānanda. Do not favor the going forth of women from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata."
A third time the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "It would be good, venerable sir, if women might obtain the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata."
"Enough, Ānanda. Do not favor the going forth of women from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata."
Then it occurred to the Venerable Ānanda: "The Blessed One does not allow women the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata. What if I were to ask the Blessed One by some other method for the going forth of women from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata?" Then the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, is a woman capable, having gone forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, of realizing the fruit of stream-entry (sotāpattiphala), the fruit of once-returning (sakidāgāmiphala), the fruit of non-returning (anāgāmiphala), or the fruit of arahantship (arahattaphala)?"
"A woman is capable, Ānanda, having gone forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, of realizing the fruit of stream-entry, the fruit of once-returning, the fruit of non-returning, and the fruit of arahantship."
"If, venerable sir, a woman is capable, having gone forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, of realizing the fruit of stream-entry, the fruit of once-returning, the fruit of non-returning, and the fruit of arahantship — venerable sir, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī has been of great service: she is the Blessed One's maternal aunt; she nurtured him, raised him, gave him her milk; when his mother had died, she suckled the Blessed One. It would be good, venerable sir, if women might obtain the going forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.