________________
334
KULLAVAGGA.
X, 8, 1.
thus has it been laid down by the Blessed One : "Bhikkhus are to settle for the Bhikkhunts a point at issue."
They told this matter to the Blessed One. 'I allow Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, to set on foot' an official act for Bhikkhunis, and then to give it in charge for Bhikkhunts to carry out the official act against Bhikkhunis. And I allow Bhikkhus to set on foot the (dealing with an) offence for Bhikkhunis, and then to give it in charge for Bhikkhunis to accept the confession thereof.'
8. 1. Now at that time a Bhikkhuni, a pupil of the Bhikkhunt Uppalavannâ, followed the Blessed One for seven years, learning the Vinaya ; but she, being forgetful, lost it as fast as she received it. And that Bhikkhuni heard that the Blessed One was about to go to Sâvatthi. Then she thought : For seven years have I followed the Blessed One, learning the Vinaya; and, being forgetful, I have lost it as fast as I received it. Hard is it for a woman to follow the Blessed One her life long. What now shall I do?'
And that Bhikkhuni told this matter to the Bhikkhunis, and they told it to the Bhikkhus, and the Bhikkhus told it to the Blessed One.
'I allow Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, to teach the Vinaya to Bhikkhunts.'
Here ends the First Portion for Recitation.
Ropetum, on which Buddhaghosa says: Tagganiyâdîsu imam nama kammam etissä kâtabban ti evam ropetva.
Digitized by
Digilzed by Google
