Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū nānādisā nānājanapadā pabbajjāpekkhe ca upasampadāpekkhe ca ānenti— “bhagavā ne pabbājessati upasampādessatī”ti. Tattha bhikkhū ceva kilamanti pabbajjāpekkhā ca upasampadāpekkhā ca. Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi— “etarahi kho bhikkhū nānādisā nānājanapadā pabbajjāpekkhe ca upasampadāpekkhe ca ānenti— ‘bhagavā ne pabbājessati upasampādessatī’ti. Tattha bhikkhū ceva kilamanti pabbajjāpekkhā ca upasampadāpekkhā ca. Yannūnāhaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ anujāneyyaṁ— tumheva dāni, bhikkhave, tāsu tāsu disāsu tesu tesu janapadesu pabbājetha upasampādethā”ti.
At that time bhikkhus were bringing from various directions and various countries those who wanted the going forth and those who wanted full ordination, thinking: “The Blessed One will give them the going forth and full ordination.” In that, the bhikkhus were tiring, and those who wanted the going forth and those who wanted full ordination were tiring too. Then, while the Blessed One was alone in seclusion, this reflection arose in his mind: “Now the bhikkhus are bringing from various directions and various countries those who want the going forth and those who want full ordination, thinking: ‘The Blessed One will give them the going forth and full ordination.’ In that, the bhikkhus are tiring, and those who want the going forth and those who want full ordination are tiring too. Suppose I were to allow the bhikkhus: ‘You yourselves, bhikkhus, may now give the going forth and full ordination in those various directions and those various countries.’”
Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— “idha mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi— etarahi kho bhikkhū nānādisā nānājanapadā pabbajjāpekkhe ca upasampadāpekkhe ca ānenti— ‘bhagavā ne pabbājessati upasampādessatī’ti, Tattha bhikkhū ceva kilamanti pabbajjāpekkhā ca upasampadāpekkhā ca. Yannūnāhaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ anujāneyyaṁ tumheva dāni, bhikkhave, tāsu tāsu disāsu tesu tesu janapadesu pabbājetha upasampādethāti, Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, tumheva dāni tāsu tāsu disāsu tesu tesu janapadesu pabbājetha upasampādetha.
Then the Blessed One, emerging from seclusion in the evening, addressed the bhikkhus with a talk on the Dhamma concerning this occasion and this incident: “Here, bhikkhus, while I was alone in seclusion, this reflection arose in my mind: ‘Now the bhikkhus are bringing from various directions and various countries those who want the going forth and those who want full ordination, thinking: “The Blessed One will give them the going forth and full ordination.” In that, the bhikkhus are tiring, and those who want the going forth and those who want full ordination are tiring too. Suppose I were to allow the bhikkhus: “You yourselves, bhikkhus, may now give the going forth and full ordination in those various directions and those various countries.”’ I allow you, bhikkhus: you yourselves may now give the going forth and full ordination in those various directions and those various countries.
Evañca pana, bhikkhave, pabbājetabbo upasampādetabbo— Paṭhamaṁ kesamassuṁ ohārāpetvā, kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādāpetvā, ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ kārāpetvā, bhikkhūnaṁ pāde vandāpetvā, ukkuṭikaṁ nisīdāpetvā, añjaliṁ paggaṇhāpetvā ‘evaṁ vadehī’ti vattabbo— ‘Buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi, Dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi, Saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi. Dutiyampi buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi, Dutiyampi dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi, Dutiyampi saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi. Tatiyampi buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi, Tatiyampi dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi, Tatiyampi saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmī’ti. Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, imehi tīhi saraṇagamanehi pabbajjaṁ upasampadan”ti.
“And, bhikkhus, one should be given the going forth and full ordination in this way. First, have him shave off his hair and beard, put on the dyed robes, arrange the upper robe over one shoulder, pay homage at the bhikkhus’ feet, squat down, raise his joined palms, and tell him: ‘Say this: “I go for refuge to the Buddha. I go for refuge to the Dhamma. I go for refuge to the Saṅgha. A second time I go for refuge to the Buddha. A second time I go for refuge to the Dhamma. A second time I go for refuge to the Saṅgha. A third time I go for refuge to the Buddha. A third time I go for refuge to the Dhamma. A third time I go for refuge to the Saṅgha.”’ I allow, bhikkhus, the going forth and full ordination by these three goings for refuge.”