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338
KULLAVAGGA.
Now at that time the whole Bhikkhunt-samgha went to the Exhortation together. The people murmured, were indignant, and complained, saying: 'There are their wives, there are their mistresses; now will they take pleasure together.'
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'The whole Bhikkhuni-samgha is not, O Bhikkhus, to go to the Exhortation together. And if it should so go, it is guilty of a dukkata. I allow, O Bhikkhus, four or five Bhikkhunis to go together.' [The same when four or five went the decision ending,]
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, two or three Bhikkhunis to go together to Exhortation; and let them go up to some one Bhikkhu, and arrange their robes over one shoulder, and, sitting down on their heels, let ⚫them stretch forth their joined palms, and thus address him: "The Bhikkhunt-samgha salutes the feet of the Bhikkhu-samgha, and requests permission to come for the purpose of the Exhortation being held; may that be granted, they say, to the Bhikkhuni-samgha."
"
X, 9, 4.
Then he who is entrusted with the recitation of the Pâtimokkha is to ask: "Is there any Bhikkhu who has been appointed to hold the Exhortation of the Bhikkhunis?"
'If a Bhikkhu has been appointed thereto, the reciter of the Pâtimokkha is to say: "Such and such a Bhikkhu has been appointed to hold Exhortation to the Bhikkhunts. Let the Bhikkhunisamgha come to him accordingly."
'If no Bhikkhu has been appointed thereto, the reciter of the Pâtimokkha is to say: Which of the venerable ones is able to hold Exhortation to
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