Lzh Mg Bi Pm Pc 96Ordaining Married Girls Under Twenty
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ūnavīsativassa-kumāribhūta
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Commentary on the Ūnavīsativassa-kumāribhūta Sutta
On the Ordination of Girls Who Have Been Married and Are Under Twenty Years of Age
Background
This text belongs to the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha (the code of discipline for nuns) within the Vinaya Piṭaka, and reflects a practical matter that arose within the early Saṅgha community. During the time when the Blessed One still resided in the world, the ordination of women gave rise to debate, particularly in cases complicated by age and marital status. This text specifically addresses the situation of a girl who has been married but has not yet reached twenty years of age (ūnavīsativassa) and who wishes to enter the community of bhikkhunīs.
This rule reflects the balance between compassion (karuṇā) toward those who seek liberation and the protection of the monastic community (Saṃgha) from legal and ethical difficulties. It likewise expresses respect for the rights of the husband and family — an important principle within the Buddha-Dharma.
Main Content
According to the Pātimokkha, if a girl who has a husband but has not yet completed twenty years of age requests ordination, then to ordain her constitutes a violation of Pācittiya — a minor offense requiring confession and expiation. The age of twenty (vīsati vassa) is the legal boundary established by the Blessed One, signifying a maturity sufficient for one to make an independent decision to undertake the training.
The pivotal point here is marital status. A woman who has been married belongs, under the law of the household; she cannot freely decide to alter her legal standing without the acknowledgment of her husband. If a bhikkhunī ordains her without verifying her age and marital status, that bhikkhunī commits a violation of the Vinaya.
This rule differs from the case of a girl who remains unmarried — those who have not yet been married may be ordained with the consent of their parents; however, they must still have reached the age of twenty in order to receive the full ordination as a Bhikkhunī-sāmaṇerī (a probationary bhikkhunī). This regulation demonstrates the wisdom of the Vinaya in safeguarding the fundamental relationships of society.
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