四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.46

3.46

"If a bhikṣu, deputed by the saṅgha to instruct bhikṣuṇīs, does so even until sunset, it is a prāyaścittika." / This full precept text has three clauses: first, the person who commits the offense; second, being deputed by the saṅgha; third, under "instructing," penalizing the offense of preaching the Dharma past the proper time. The words "if a bhikṣu" are as above. Second, "deputed by the saṅgha" means deputed to instruct by a jñaptidvitīyā-karmavācanā. Third, "instructing until sunset, it is a prāyaścittika" is the penalizing clause. In the text on light and grave offenses there are four [cases]: first, if one instructs until sunset, it is a prāyaścittika—the Mahīśāsaka Vinaya states: "Speaking word by word after sunset is a prāyaścittika"; second, if outside of regular instruction one teaches sūtras or recites sūtras, etc., one commits a duṣkṛta; third, if one teaches sūtras, etc., to other women until sunset, all are duṣkṛtas; fourth, [mistaken] perception of the object is also a duṣkṛta. The Vinaya states regarding non-offenses: "If one instructs and ceases before sunset; if, excluding women, it is for other people; if at a boat crossing one preaches the Dharma and nuns listen on their own; if one preaches the Dharma at night for merchants; if inside a nunnery; or if, due to an invitation by someone, they happen upon the preaching and listen—none of these is an offense." For this precept, instructing in the monks' monastery incurs the sunset offense, whereas in a nunnery there is no offense. In accordance with this, one may instruct nuns in both the monks' and the nuns' monasteries.