Chapter 25

25.

1. Now at that time a certain woman who had already conceived, but did not know it, was received into the Order among the Bhikkhunîs. Afterwards her womb moved within her 2. Then that Bhikkhunî thought: 'How shall I now conduct myself towards this child?'

They told this matter to the Blessed One.

'I allow her, O Bhikkhus, to bring it up till it have attained to years of discretion 3.'

Then the Bhikkhunî thought: 'It is not permissible for me to live alone, nor for any other Bhikkhunî to live with a male child. What course ought I to pursue?'

They told this matter to the Blessed One.

'I allow the Bhikkhunîs, O Bhikkhus, to depute any one Bhikkhunî, and give her as a companion to that (first-mentioned) Bhikkhunî.'

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'And thus, O Bhikkhus, is she to be appointed: First that Bhikkhunî ought to be asked (whether she be willing to undertake the duty). After she has been asked, a learned and competent Bhikkhunî ought to lay the motion before the Samgha, saying:

'"Let the Samgha, venerable Ladies, hear me. If it seem meet to the Samgha, let the Samgha depute N. N. as a companion to M. M. That is the motion.

'"Let the Samgha,"' [&c., as usual, to the end of the Kammavâkâ.]

2. Then that companion Bhikkhunî thought: 'Now how should I conduct myself towards this child?'

They told this matter to the Blessed One.

'I prescribe that the Bhikkhunîs, O Bhikkhus, conduct themselves towards that child precisely as they would towards other men, save only as regards the sleeping under the same roof 1.'

3. Now at that time a certain Bhikkhunî, who had been guilty of a grievous offence, was living subject to the Mânatta penance 2. Then that Bhikkhunî thought: 'It is not permissible for me to live alone, and it is not permissible for any other Bhikkhunî to live with me. What now ought I to do?'

They told this matter to the Blessed One.

I allow the Bhikkhunîs, O Bhikkhus, to depute any one Bhikkhunî, and to give her as a companion to that Bhikkhunî. And thus, O Bhikkhus, ought

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she to be deputed [&c., as in last section but one, down to the end of the Kammavâkâ].'

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