… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six nuns learnt worldly knowledge. People … spread it about, saying: “How can these nuns learn worldly knowledge, like women householders who enjoy pleasures of the senses?” Nuns heard these people who … spread it about. Those who were modest nuns … spread it about, saying: “How can this group of six nuns learn worldly knowledge?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that the group of six nuns learn worldly knowledge?”

“It is true, lord.”

The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them saying:

“How, monks, can this group of six nuns learn worldly knowledge? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:

“Whatever nun should learn worldly knowledge, there is an offence of expiation.”

Whatever means: … nun is to be understood in this case.

Worldly knowledge means: whatever is secular, not connected with the goal.

Should learn means: if she learns by line, for every line there is an offence of expiation. If she learns by syllable, for every syllable there is an offence of expiation.

There is no offence if she learns writing; if she learns what is memorised; if she learns a spell for protection; if she is mad, if she is the first wrong-doer.