Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Sk 101Holding a Sword
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na khaḍgapāṇa
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Explanation of the Na Khaḍgapāṇa Text (Holding a Sword)
Background
The Na Khaḍgapāṇa text is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravada tradition, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the explanation of the nuns’ discipline. The context of the text concerns regulations on the management of objects and the attitude of female monastics toward dangerous implements in the monastic community.
The Vinaya Piṭaka in general is not a set of imaginary legal teachings, but practical regulations arising from concrete events in the life of the Buddha and the earliest disciples. This text reflects a specific situation involving a bhikkhunī holding a sword, a weapon, which contradicts the spirituality and principle of nonviolence in Buddhism.
Main Content
In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, a bhikkhunī possessing or holding a sword (khaḍga) is regarded as a violation of the Pātimokkha. This is not simply because a sword is a dangerous object, but because it reflects a state of mind unsuitable to the way of Buddhist renunciation.
The Na Khaḍgapāṇa text prescribes that a bhikkhunī should not hold or possess a sword under any circumstances. The basic principle here is that those gone forth have abandoned worldly life, which is bound up with protecting wealth, land, and body by violent tools. Monastics seek protection through the Dharma, not through material weapons.
This regulation also reflects the principle of ahiṁsā, non-harming, one of the ethical foundations of Buddhism. Possessing a sword may be understood as a latent act of violence, even if the sword has not been used. It expresses an intention or capacity to cause harm, which is not in accord with the discipline of a bhikkhunī.
Practical Meaning
Although this regulation is simple in form, it carries profound meaning for modern practitioners.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.