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X, 1, 3.
ON THE DUTIES OF BHIKKHUNËs.
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straight on he in due course arrived thereat. And there at Vesålt the Blessed One stayed, in the Mahavana, in the Katâgâra Hall.
And Mahâ-pagâpatt the Gotami cut off her hair, and put on orange-coloured robes, and set out, with a number of women of the Sakya clan, towards Vesalt; and in due course she arrived at Vesålt, at the Mahậvana, at the Katågåra Hall. And Mahapagâ pati the Gotami, with swollen feet and covered with dust, sad and sorrowful, weeping and in tears, took)her stand outside under the entrance porch.
And the venerable Ananda saw her so standing there, and on seeing her so, he said to Maha-pagà. patt: 'Why standest thou there, outside the porch, with swollen feet and covered with dust, sad and sorrowful, weeping and in tears ? :
'Inasmuch, O Ânanda, as the Lord, the Blessed One, does not permit women to renounce their homes and enter the homeless state under the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata.'
3. Then did the venerable Ånanda go up to the place where the Blessed One was, and bow down before the Blessed One, and take his seat on one side. And, so sitting, the venerable Ânanda said to the Blessed One:
'Behold, Lord, Maha-pagâ pati the Gotam is standing outside under the entrance porch, with swollen feet and covered with dust, sad and sorrowful, weeping and in tears, inasmuch as the Blessed One does not permit women to renounce their homes and enter the homeless state under the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Blessed One. It were well, Lord, if women were to have permission granted to them to do as she desires.'
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