[578] The candidate for full ordination (upasampadāpekkhā) should be approached by that bhikkhunī who has been agreed upon and addressed thus: "Listen, So-and-so. This is for you the time for truth, the time for fact. When you are asked in the midst of the Saṅgha about what has occurred, what is so should be declared 'It is'; what is not so should be declared 'It is not.' Do not be flustered; do not be abashed. They will question you thus: Are you not one lacking sexual characteristics? Are you not one with merely rudimentary sexual characteristics? Are you not one without menstrual flow? Are you not one with constant menstrual flow? Are you not one who constantly wears a cloth? Are you not one who constantly drips? Are you not one with a protruding organ? Are you not a female paṇḍaka? Are you not a manlike woman? Are you not one whose passages are conjoined? Are you not one of dual sex? Do you have such diseases as these: leprosy, boils, eczema, consumption, epilepsy? Are you a human being? Are you a woman? Are you a free woman? Are you free from debt? Are you not in the king's service? Have you been permitted by your mother and father and by your husband? Are you fully twenty years of age? Are your bowl and robes complete? What is your name? What is the name of your sponsor (pavattinī)?"
They come together … They should not come together. The instructor (anusāsikā), having come first, should inform the Saṅgha: "Venerable ladies, let the Saṅgha listen to me. So-and-so is the candidate for full ordination under the venerable So-and-so. She has been instructed by me. If the Saṅgha is ready, let So-and-so come." She should be told: "Come."
Having had her arrange her upper robe over one shoulder, pay homage at the feet of the bhikkhunīs, sit down squatting on her heels, and raise her joined palms in reverence, she should be made to request full ordination: "Venerable ladies, I request full ordination from the Saṅgha. May the Saṅgha raise me up, venerable ladies, out of compassion. For a second time, venerable ladies, I request full ordination from the Saṅgha. May the Saṅgha raise me up, venerable ladies, out of compassion. For a third time, venerable ladies, I request full ordination from the Saṅgha. May the Saṅgha raise me up, venerable ladies, out of compassion."
The Saṅgha should be informed by a competent and capable bhikkhunī: "Venerable ladies, let the Saṅgha listen to me. This So-and-so is the candidate for full ordination under the venerable So-and-so. If the Saṅgha is ready, I would question So-and-so about the obstructing conditions (antarāyikā dhammā). Listen, So-and-so. This is for you the time for truth, the time for fact. I ask you about what has occurred. What is so should be declared 'It is'; what is not so should be declared 'It is not.' Are you not one lacking sexual characteristics? Are you not one with merely rudimentary sexual characteristics? … What is your name? What is the name of your sponsor?"
The Saṅgha should be informed by a competent and capable bhikkhunī: "Venerable ladies, let the Saṅgha listen to me. This So-and-so, the candidate for full ordination under the venerable So-and-so, is pure with regard to the obstructing conditions. Her bowl and robes are complete. So-and-so requests full ordination from the Saṅgha with the venerable So-and-so as sponsor. If the Saṅgha is ready, the Saṅgha may confer full ordination upon So-and-so with the venerable So-and-so as sponsor. This is the motion (ñatti).
"Venerable ladies, let the Saṅgha listen to me. This So-and-so, the candidate for full ordination under the venerable So-and-so, is pure with regard to the obstructing conditions. Her bowl and robes are complete. So-and-so requests full ordination from the Saṅgha with the venerable So-and-so as sponsor. The Saṅgha confers full ordination upon So-and-so with the venerable So-and-so as sponsor. Any venerable lady to whom the full ordination of So-and-so with the venerable So-and-so as sponsor is agreeable should remain silent; any to whom it is not agreeable should speak.
"For a second time I speak on this matter. … For a third time I speak on this matter: Venerable ladies, let the Saṅgha listen to me. This So-and-so, the candidate for full ordination under the venerable So-and-so, is pure with regard to the obstructing conditions. Her bowl and robes are complete. So-and-so requests full ordination from the Saṅgha with the venerable So-and-so as sponsor. The Saṅgha confers full ordination upon So-and-so with the venerable So-and-so as sponsor. Any venerable lady to whom the full ordination of So-and-so with the venerable So-and-so as sponsor is agreeable should remain silent; any to whom it is not agreeable should speak.
"So-and-so has been fully ordained by the Saṅgha with the venerable So-and-so as sponsor. It is agreeable to the Saṅgha; therefore it is silent. Thus do I hold it."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.