--- Thig13.1 Ambapālītherīgāthā --- |
--- The Verses of the Senior Nun Ambapālī --- |
“Kāḷakā bhamaravaṇṇasādisā, |
“Black as the color of bees, |
Vellitaggā mama muddhajā ahuṁ; |
My curly-tipped hair was; |
Te jarāya sāṇavākasādisā, |
With old age, it is like hemp fibers, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Vāsitova surabhī karaṇḍako, |
Like a fragrant casket, |
Pupphapūra mama uttamaṅgajo; |
My head was full of flowers; |
Taṁ jarāyatha salomagandhikaṁ, |
Now with old age, it has the smell of dog-fur, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Kānanaṁva sahitaṁ suropitaṁ, |
Like a dense, well-planted forest, |
Kocchasūcivicitaggasobhitaṁ; |
Adorned with pins and combs, it shone; |
Taṁ jarāya viralaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ, |
Now with old age, it is sparse here and there, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Kaṇhakhandhakasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitaṁ, |
Adorned with dark ornaments of gold, |
Sobhate suveṇīhilaṅkataṁ; |
It shone, adorned with lovely braids; |
Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ siraṁ kataṁ, |
Now with old age, the head has become bald, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Cittakārasukatāva lekhikā, |
Like a painting by an artist, |
Sobhare su bhamukā pure mama; |
My eyebrows formerly shone; |
Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā, |
Now with old age, they hang down with wrinkles, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Bhassarā surucirā yathā maṇī, |
Shining and very lovely, like jewels, |
Nettahesumabhinīlamāyatā; |
My eyes were, deep blue and long; |
Te jarāyabhihatā na sobhare, |
Afflicted by old age, they do not shine, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Saṇhatuṅgasadisī ca nāsikā, |
Like a fine, high nose, |
Sobhate su abhiyobbanaṁ pati; |
It shone in my prime; |
Sā jarāya upakūlitā viya, |
Now with old age, it is like a collapsed kiln, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Kaṅkaṇaṁva sukataṁ suniṭṭhitaṁ, |
Like a well-made, well-finished bracelet, |
Sobhare su mama kaṇṇapāḷiyo; |
My earlobes formerly shone; |
Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā, |
Now with old age, they hang down with wrinkles, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Pattalīmakulavaṇṇasādisā, |
Like the color of a leaf-bud, |
Sobhare su dantā pure mama; |
My teeth formerly shone; |
Te jarāya khaṇḍitā cāsitā, |
Now with old age, they are broken and yellow, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Kānanamhi vanasaṇḍacārinī, |
Like a cuckoo wandering in a forest grove, |
Kokilāva madhuraṁ nikūjihaṁ; |
I cooed sweetly; |
Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ, |
Now with old age, it is broken here and there, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Saṇhakamburiva suppamajjitā, |
Like a fine, well-polished conch, |
Sobhate su gīvā pure mama; |
My neck formerly shone; |
Sā jarāya bhaggā vināmitā, |
Now with old age, it is broken and bent, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Vaṭṭapalighasadisopamā ubho, |
Like round bolts, both, |
Sobhare su bāhā pure mama; |
My arms formerly shone; |
Tā jarāya yatha pāṭalibbalitā, |
Now with old age, they are like withered branches, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Saṇhamuddikasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā, |
Adorned with fine rings of gold, |
Sobhare su hatthā pure mama; |
My hands formerly shone; |
Te jarāya yathā mūlamūlikā, |
Now with old age, they are like roots, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Pīnavaṭṭasahituggatā ubho, |
Plump, round, firm, and high, both, |
Sobhare su thanakā pure mama; |
My breasts formerly shone; |
Thevikīva lambanti nodakā, |
Now they hang down like empty water-skins, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Kañcanassa phalakaṁva sammaṭṭhaṁ, |
Like a polished golden board, |
Sobhate su kāyo pure mama; |
My body formerly shone; |
So valīhi sukhumāhi otato, |
Now it is covered with fine wrinkles, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Nāgabhogasadisopamā ubho, |
Like the coils of a serpent, both, |
Sobhare su ūrū pure mama; |
My thighs formerly shone; |
Te jarāya yathā veḷunāḷiyo, |
Now with old age, they are like bamboo stalks, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Saṇhanūpurasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā, |
Adorned with fine anklets of gold, |
Sobhare su jaṅghā pure mama; |
My shins formerly shone; |
Tā jarāya tiladaṇḍakāriva, |
Now with old age, they are like sesame stalks, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Tūlapuṇṇasadisopamā ubho, |
Like being filled with cotton, both, |
Sobhare su pādā pure mama; |
My feet formerly shone; |
Te jarāya phuṭitā valīmatā, |
Now with old age, they are cracked and wrinkled, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise. |
Ediso ahu ayaṁ samussayo, |
Such was this body, |
Jajjaro bahudukkhānamālayo; |
Now decrepit, a home of many sorrows; |
Sopalepapatito jarāgharo, |
A plastered-over, dilapidated house, |
Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā”. |
The word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.” |
… Ambapālī therī …. |
… The senior nun Ambapālī …. |
--- Thig13.2 Rohinītherīgāthā --- |
--- The Verses of the Senior Nun Rohinī --- |
“‘Samaṇā’ti bhoti supi, |
“‘You sleep, saying ‘samaṇas,’ O lady, |
‘samaṇā’ti pabujjhasi; |
You wake up, saying ‘samaṇas’; |
Samaṇāneva kittesi, |
You praise only samaṇas, |
samaṇī nūna bhavissasi. |
Surely you will become a samaṇī. |
Vipulaṁ annañca pānañca, |
You provide abundant food and drink, |
samaṇānaṁ paveccasi; |
To samaṇas; |
Rohinī dāni pucchāmi, |
Rohinī, now I ask you, |
kena te samaṇā piyā. |
Why are the samaṇas dear to you? |
Akammakāmā alasā, |
Lovers of no work, lazy, |
paradattūpajīvino; |
Living on what is given by others; |
Āsaṁsukā sādukāmā, |
Hopeful, lovers of sweet things, |
kena te samaṇā piyā”. |
Why are the samaṇas dear to you?” |
“Cirassaṁ vata maṁ tāta, |
“For a long time, indeed, father, |
samaṇānaṁ paripucchasi; |
You have asked me about the samaṇas; |
Tesaṁ te kittayissāmi, |
I will praise them to you, |
paññāsīlaparakkamaṁ. |
Their wisdom, virtue, and effort. |
Kammakāmā analasā, |
Lovers of work, not lazy, |
kammaseṭṭhassa kārakā; |
Doers of the best work; |
Rāgaṁ dosaṁ pajahanti, |
They abandon lust and hatred, |
tena me samaṇā piyā. |
Therefore the samaṇas are dear to me. |
Tīṇi pāpassa mūlāni, |
The three roots of evil, |
dhunanti sucikārino; |
They blow away, doers of purity; |
Sabbaṁ pāpaṁ pahīnesaṁ, |
All evil has been abandoned by them, |
tena me samaṇā piyā. |
Therefore the samaṇas are dear to me. |
Kāyakammaṁ suci nesaṁ, |
Their bodily action is pure, |
vacīkammañca tādisaṁ; |
And their verbal action is likewise; |
Manokammaṁ suci nesaṁ, |
Their mental action is pure, |
tena me samaṇā piyā. |
Therefore the samaṇas are dear to me. |
Vimalā saṅkhamuttāva, |
Stainless as a conch-shell pearl, |
suddhā santarabāhirā; |
Pure within and without; |
Puṇṇā sukkāna dhammānaṁ, |
Full of stainless qualities, |
tena me samaṇā piyā. |
Therefore the samaṇas are dear to me. |
Bahussutā dhammadharā, |
Learned, bearers of the Dhamma, |
ariyā dhammajīvino; |
Noble, living by the Dhamma; |
Atthaṁ dhammañca desenti, |
They teach the meaning and the Dhamma, |
tena me samaṇā piyā. |
Therefore the samaṇas are dear to me. |
Bahussutā dhammadharā, |
Learned, bearers of the Dhamma, |
ariyā dhammajīvino; |
Noble, living by the Dhamma; |
Ekaggacittā satimanto, |
With one-pointed minds, mindful, |
tena me samaṇā piyā. |
Therefore the samaṇas are dear to me. |
Dūraṅgamā satimanto, |
Far-going, mindful, |
mantabhāṇī anuddhatā; |
Speakers of measured words, not arrogant; |
Dukkhassantaṁ pajānanti, |
They know the end of suffering, |
tena me samaṇā piyā. |
Therefore the samaṇas are dear to me. |
Yasmā gāmā pakkamanti, |
From whatever village they depart, |
na vilokenti kiñcanaṁ; |
They do not look back at anything; |
Anapekkhāva gacchanti, |
They go without attachment, |
tena me samaṇā piyā. |
Therefore the samaṇas are dear to me. |
Na te saṁ koṭṭhe openti, |
They do not store in a granary, |
na kumbhiṁ na khaḷopiyaṁ; |
Nor in a pot, nor in a basket; |
Pariniṭṭhitamesānā, |
Seeking what is finished, |
tena me samaṇā piyā. |
Therefore the samaṇas are dear to me. |
Na te hiraññaṁ gaṇhanti, |
They do not accept gold, |
na suvaṇṇaṁ na rūpiyaṁ; |
Nor silver, nor money; |
Paccuppannena yāpenti, |
They sustain themselves with what is at hand, |
tena me samaṇā piyā. |
Therefore the samaṇas are dear to me. |
Nānākulā pabbajitā, |
Having gone forth from various families, |
nānājanapadehi ca; |
And from various countries; |
Aññamaññaṁ piyāyanti, |
They are dear to one another, |
tena me samaṇā piyā”. |
Therefore the samaṇas are dear to me.” |
“Atthāya vata no bhoti, |
“For our benefit, indeed, O lady, |
kule jātāsi rohinī; |
You were born in our family, Rohinī; |
Saddhā buddhe ca dhamme ca, |
With faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma, |
saṅghe ca tibbagāravā. |
And the Saṅgha, with deep reverence. |
Tuvaṁ hetaṁ pajānāsi, |
You indeed know this, |
puññakkhettaṁ anuttaraṁ; |
The unsurpassed field of merit; |
Amhampi ete samaṇā, |
These samaṇas of ours, |
paṭigaṇhanti dakkhiṇaṁ. |
Accept our offerings. |
Patiṭṭhito hettha yañño, |
A sacrifice will be established here, |
vipulo no bhavissati”; |
It will become abundant for us.” |
“Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa, |
“If you are afraid of suffering, |
sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ. |
If suffering is not dear to you. |
Upehi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ, |
Go for refuge to the Buddha, |
dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ; |
The Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, the Tādina; |
Samādiyāhi sīlāni, |
Undertake the precepts, |
taṁ te atthāya hehiti”. |
That will be for your welfare.” |
“Upemi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ, |
“I go for refuge to the Buddha, |
dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ; |
The Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, the Tādina; |
Samādiyāmi sīlāni, |
I undertake the precepts, |
taṁ me atthāya hehiti. |
That will be for my welfare. |
Brahmabandhu pure āsiṁ, |
Formerly I was a brahmin by birth, |
so idānimhi brāhmaṇo; |
Now I am a brahmin; |
Tevijjo sottiyo camhi, |
With the three true knowledges, I am a scholar, |
vedagū camhi nhātako”. |
And I am a master of the Vedas, I have bathed.” |
… Rohinī therī …. |
… The senior nun Rohinī …. |
--- Thig13.3 Therīgāthā 13.3 --- |
--- The Verses of the Senior Nuns 13.3 --- |
“Laṭṭhihattho pure āsi, |
“Formerly I had a staff in my hand, |
so dāni migaluddako; |
Now I am a hunter of deer; |
Āsāya palipā ghorā, |
The terrible snare of hope, |
nāsakkhi pārametave. |
I was not able to overcome. |
Sumattaṁ maṁ maññamānā, |
Thinking I was very clever, |
cāpā puttamatosayi; |
Cāpā pleased her son; |
Cāpāya bandhanaṁ chetvā, |
Having cut Cāpā’s bond, |
pabbajissaṁ punopahaṁ”. |
I will go forth again.” |
“Mā me kujjhi mahāvīra, |
“Do not be angry with me, great hero, |
mā me kujjhi mahāmuni; |
Do not be angry with me, great sage; |
Na hi kodhaparetassa, |
For one overcome by anger, |
suddhi atthi kuto tapo”. |
There is no purity, how can there be austerity?” |
“Pakkamissañca nāḷāto, |
“I will depart from Nāḷā, |
kodha nāḷāya vacchati; |
Who will go with me from Nāḷā? |
Bandhantī itthirūpena, |
Binding with the form of a woman, |
samaṇe dhammajīvino”. |
Samaṇas who live by the Dhamma.” |
“Ehi kāḷa nivattassu, |
“Come, Kāḷa, turn back, |
bhuñja kāme yathā pure; |
Enjoy sensual pleasures as before; |
Ahañca te vasīkatā, |
I am under your control, |
ye ca me santi ñātakā”. |
And so are my relatives.” |
“Etto cāpe catubbhāgaṁ, |
“From this, Cāpā, a fourth part, |
yathā bhāsasi tvañca me; |
As you say, and I; |
Tayi rattassa posassa, |
For a man infatuated with you, |
uḷāraṁ vata taṁ siyā”. |
That would be great, indeed.” |
“Kāḷaṅginiṁva takkāriṁ, |
“Like a black-limbed Takkāri tree, |
pupphitaṁ girimuddhani; |
Blossoming on a mountain peak; |
Phullaṁ dālimalaṭṭhiṁva, |
Like a blossoming dālimalaṭṭhi tree, |
antodīpeva pāṭaliṁ. |
Like a pāṭali tree on an island. |
Haricandanalittaṅgiṁ, |
With limbs anointed with yellow sandalwood, |
kāsikuttamadhāriniṁ; |
Wearing the finest Kāsī cloth; |
Taṁ maṁ rūpavatiṁ santiṁ, |
Me, being so beautiful, |
kassa ohāya gacchasi”. |
To whom are you going, leaving me behind?” |
“Sākuntikova sakuṇiṁ, |
“Like a fowler a bird, |
yathā bandhitumicchati; |
Wishes to bind; |
Āharimena rūpena, |
With a charming form, |
na maṁ tvaṁ bādhayissasi”. |
You will not hinder me.” |
“Imañca me puttaphalaṁ, |
“And this fruit, my son, |
kāḷa uppāditaṁ tayā; |
O Kāḷa, was produced by you; |
Taṁ maṁ puttavatiṁ santiṁ, |
Me, having a son, |
kassa ohāya gacchasi”. |
To whom are you going, leaving me behind?” |
“Jahanti putte sappaññā, |
“The wise abandon their sons, |
tato ñātī tato dhanaṁ; |
Then their relatives, then their wealth; |
Pabbajanti mahāvīrā, |
The great heroes go forth, |
nāgo chetvāva bandhanaṁ”. |
Like an elephant having broken its bonds.” |
“Idāni te imaṁ puttaṁ, |
“Now this son of yours, |
Daṇḍena churikāya vā; |
With a staff or a knife; |
Bhūmiyaṁ vā nisumbhissaṁ, |
I will dash him on the ground, |
Puttasokā na gacchasi”. |
You will not go because of grief for your son.” |
“Sace puttaṁ siṅgālānaṁ, |
“If you give my son to jackals, |
kukkurānaṁ padāhisi; |
And to dogs; |
Na maṁ puttakatte jammi, |
You will not, O mother of my son, |
punarāvattayissasi”. |
Turn me back again.” |
“Handa kho dāni bhaddante, |
“Well then, now, dear sir, |
kuhiṁ kāḷa gamissasi; |
Where will you go, Kāḷa? |
Katamaṁ gāmanigamaṁ, |
To what village or town, |
nagaraṁ rājadhāniyo”. |
To what city or royal capital?” |
“Ahumha pubbe gaṇino, |
“We were formerly members of a group, |
Assamaṇā samaṇamānino; |
Not samaṇas, but thinking ourselves samaṇas; |
Gāmena gāmaṁ vicarimha, |
We wandered from village to village, |
Nagare rājadhāniyo. |
To cities and royal capitals. |
Eso hi bhagavā buddho, |
This is the Blessed One, the Buddha, |
nadiṁ nerañjaraṁ pati; |
By the river Nerañjarā; |
Sabbadukkhappahānāya, |
For the abandoning of all suffering, |
dhammaṁ deseti pāṇinaṁ; |
He teaches the Dhamma to living beings; |
Tassāhaṁ santikaṁ gacchaṁ, |
I am going to him, |
so me satthā bhavissati”. |
He will be my teacher.” |
“Vandanaṁ dāni vajjāsi, |
“Now you should pay homage, |
lokanāthaṁ anuttaraṁ; |
To the unsurpassed leader of the world; |
Padakkhiṇañca katvāna, |
And having circumambulated him, |
ādiseyyāsi dakkhiṇaṁ”. |
You should dedicate the merit.” |
“Etaṁ kho labbhamamhehi, |
“This is indeed obtainable by us, |
yathā bhāsasi tvañca me; |
As you say, and I; |
Vandanaṁ dāni te vajjaṁ, |
Now I will pay homage to you, |
lokanāthaṁ anuttaraṁ; |
The unsurpassed leader of the world; |
Padakkhiṇañca katvāna, |
And having circumambulated him, |
ādisissāmi dakkhiṇaṁ”. |
I will dedicate the merit.” |
Tato ca kāḷo pakkāmi, |
Then Kāḷa departed, |
nadiṁ nerañjaraṁ pati; |
Towards the river Nerañjarā; |
So addasāsi sambuddhaṁ, |
He saw the perfectly enlightened one, |
desentaṁ amataṁ padaṁ. |
Teaching the deathless state. |
Dukkhaṁ dukkhasamuppādaṁ, |
Suffering, the origin of suffering, |
dukkhassa ca atikkamaṁ; |
And the overcoming of suffering; |
Ariyaṁ caṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ, |
And the noble eightfold path, |
dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ. |
Leading to the calming of suffering. |
Tassa pādāni vanditvā, |
Having paid homage to his feet, |
Katvāna naṁ padakkhiṇaṁ; |
And having circumambulated him; |
Cāpāya ādisitvāna, |
Having dedicated it to Cāpā, |
Pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ; |
I went forth into homelessness; |
Tisso vijjā anuppattā, |
The three true knowledges have been attained, |
Kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ. |
The Buddha’s teaching has been done. |
… Cāpā therī …. |
… The senior nun Cāpā …. |
--- Thig13.4 Sundarītherīgāthā --- |
--- The Verses of the Senior Nun Sundarī --- |
“Petāni bhoti puttāni, |
“O lady, you were formerly eating, |
khādamānā tuvaṁ pure; |
Your dead sons; |
Tuvaṁ divā ca ratto ca, |
You, day and night, |
atīva paritappasi. |
Were greatly afflicted. |
Sājja sabbāni khāditvā, |
Today, having eaten all, |
sataputtāni brāhmaṇī; |
A hundred sons, O brahmin woman; |
Vāseṭṭhi kena vaṇṇena, |
Vāseṭṭhi, for what reason, |
na bāḷhaṁ paritappasi”. |
Are you not greatly afflicted?” |
“Bahūni puttasatāni, |
“Many hundreds of sons, |
ñātisaṅghasatāni ca; |
And hundreds of relatives; |
Khāditāni atītaṁse, |
Have been eaten in the past, |
mama tuyhañca brāhmaṇa. |
By me and by you, O brahmin. |
Sāhaṁ nissaraṇaṁ ñatvā, |
I, knowing the escape, |
jātiyā maraṇassa ca; |
From birth and death; |
Na socāmi na rodāmi, |
Do not grieve, do not weep, |
na cāpi paritappayiṁ”. |
Nor do I lament.” |
“Abbhutaṁ vata vāseṭṭhi, |
“It is amazing, indeed, Vāseṭṭhi, |
vācaṁ bhāsasi edisiṁ; |
That you speak such words; |
Kassa tvaṁ dhammamaññāya, |
Having understood whose Dhamma, |
giraṁ bhāsasi edisiṁ”. |
Do you speak such words?” |
“Esa brāhmaṇa sambuddho, |
“This, O brahmin, is the perfectly enlightened one, |
nagaraṁ mithilaṁ pati; |
Going to the city of Mithilā; |
Sabbadukkhappahānāya, |
For the abandoning of all suffering, |
dhammaṁ desesi pāṇinaṁ. |
He teaches the Dhamma to living beings. |
Tassa brahme arahato, |
From him, the brahmin, the Arahant, |
dhammaṁ sutvā nirūpadhiṁ; |
Having heard the Dhamma without acquisitions; |
Tattha viññātasaddhammā, |
There, having understood the good Dhamma, |
puttasokaṁ byapānudiṁ”. |
I dispelled the grief for my son.” |
“So ahampi gamissāmi, |
“I too will go, |
nagaraṁ mithilaṁ pati; |
To the city of Mithilā; |
Appeva maṁ so bhagavā, |
Perhaps that Blessed One, |
sabbadukkhā pamocaye”. |
Will release me from all suffering.” |
Addasa brāhmaṇo buddhaṁ, |
The brahmin saw the Buddha, |
vippamuttaṁ nirūpadhiṁ; |
Liberated, without acquisitions; |
Svassa dhammamadesesi, |
The sage, the guide across suffering, |
muni dukkhassa pāragū. |
Taught him the Dhamma. |
Dukkhaṁ dukkhasamuppādaṁ, |
Suffering, the origin of suffering, |
dukkhassa ca atikkamaṁ; |
And the overcoming of suffering; |
Ariyaṁ caṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ, |
And the noble eightfold path, |
dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ. |
Leading to the calming of suffering. |
Tattha viññātasaddhammo, |
There, having understood the good Dhamma, |
pabbajjaṁ samarocayi; |
He approved of the going forth; |
Sujāto tīhi rattīhi, |
Sujāta, in three nights, |
tisso vijjā aphassayi. |
Touched the three true knowledges. |
“Ehi sārathi gacchāhi, |
“Come, charioteer, go, |
rathaṁ niyyādayāhimaṁ; |
Take this chariot away; |
Ārogyaṁ brāhmaṇiṁ vajja, |
Tell the brahmin woman that she is well, |
‘pabbaji dāni brāhmaṇo; |
‘The brahmin has now gone forth; |
Sujāto tīhi rattīhi, |
Sujāta, in three nights, |
tisso vijjā aphassayi’”. |
Touched the three true knowledges.’” |
Tato ca rathamādāya, |
Then, taking the chariot, |
sahassañcāpi sārathi; |
And also the thousand, the charioteer; |
Ārogyaṁ brāhmaṇiṁvoca, |
Told the brahmin woman that she was well, |
“pabbaji dāni brāhmaṇo; |
“The brahmin has now gone forth; |
Sujāto tīhi rattīhi, |
Sujāta, in three nights, |
tisso vijjā aphassayi”. |
Touched the three true knowledges.” |
“Etañcāhaṁ assarathaṁ, |
“This horse and chariot, |
sahassañcāpi sārathi; |
And also the thousand, O charioteer; |
Tevijjaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sutvā, |
Having heard that the brahmin has the three true knowledges, |
puṇṇapattaṁ dadāmi te”. |
I give you a full bowl.” |
“Tuyheva hotvassaratho, |
“Let the horse and chariot be yours, |
sahassañcāpi brāhmaṇi; |
And also the thousand, O brahmin woman; |
Ahampi pabbajissāmi, |
I too will go forth, |
varapaññassa santike”. |
In the presence of the one with supreme wisdom.” |
“Hatthī gavassaṁ maṇikuṇḍalañca, |
“Elephants, horses, jewels, and earrings, |
Phītañcimaṁ gahavibhavaṁ pahāya; |
And this prosperous household wealth, having abandoned; |
Pitā pabbajito tuyhaṁ, |
Your father has gone forth, |
Bhuñja bhogāni sundarī; |
Enjoy the wealth, Sundarī; |
Tuvaṁ dāyādikā kule”. |
You are the heir in the family.” |
“Hatthī gavassaṁ maṇikuṇḍalañca, |
“Elephants, horses, jewels, and earrings, |
Rammaṁ cimaṁ gahavibhavaṁ pahāya; |
And this delightful household wealth, having abandoned; |
Pitā pabbajito mayhaṁ, |
My father has gone forth, |
Puttasokena aṭṭito; |
Afflicted with grief for his son; |
Ahampi pabbajissāmi, |
I too will go forth, |
Bhātusokena aṭṭitā”. |
Afflicted with grief for my brother.” |
“So te ijjhatu saṅkappo, |
“May your resolve be fulfilled, |
yaṁ tvaṁ patthesi sundarī; |
That which you desire, Sundarī; |
Uttiṭṭhapiṇḍo uñcho ca, |
Leftover almsfood, gleanings, |
paṁsukūlañca cīvaraṁ; |
And a robe of rags; |
Etāni abhisambhontī, |
Enduring these, |
paraloke anāsavā”. |
Be without taints in the next world.” |
“Sikkhamānāya me ayye, |
“While I was training, O venerable one, |
dibbacakkhu visodhitaṁ; |
The divine eye was purified; |
Pubbenivāsaṁ jānāmi, |
I know my past lives, |
yattha me vusitaṁ pure. |
Where I lived before. |
Tuvaṁ nissāya kalyāṇi, |
Relying on you, O noble one, |
theri saṅghassa sobhane; |
O ornament of the Saṅgha of senior nuns; |
Tisso vijjā anuppattā, |
The three true knowledges have been attained, |
kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ. |
The Buddha’s teaching has been done. |
Anujānāhi me ayye, |
Grant me permission, O venerable one, |
icche sāvatthi gantave; |
I wish to go to Sāvatthī; |
Sīhanādaṁ nadissāmi, |
I will roar a lion’s roar, |
buddhaseṭṭhassa santike”. |
In the presence of the supreme Buddha.” |
“Passa sundari satthāraṁ, |
“See, Sundarī, the Teacher, |
hemavaṇṇaṁ harittacaṁ; |
Golden-hued, with a golden complexion; |
Adantānaṁ dametāraṁ, |
The tamer of the untamed, |
sambuddhamakutobhayaṁ”. |
The perfectly enlightened one, free from fear.” |
“Passa sundarimāyantiṁ, |
“See Sundarī coming, |
vippamuttaṁ nirūpadhiṁ; |
Liberated, without acquisitions; |
Vītarāgaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, |
Free from lust, disjoined, |
katakiccamanāsavaṁ. |
With her task done, without taints. |
Bārāṇasito nikkhamma, |
Having departed from Bārāṇasī, |
tava santikamāgatā; |
I have come to your presence; |
Sāvikā te mahāvīra, |
Your disciple, O great hero, |
pāde vandati sundarī. |
Sundarī pays homage to your feet. |
Tuvaṁ buddho tuvaṁ satthā, |
You are the Buddha, you are the Teacher, |
tuyhaṁ dhītāmhi brāhmaṇa; |
I am your daughter, O brahmin; |
Orasā mukhato jātā, |
Your own daughter, born from your mouth, |
katakiccā anāsavā”. |
With her task done, without taints.” |
“Tassā te svāgataṁ bhadde, |
“Welcome to you, Bhaddā, |
tato te adurāgataṁ; |
From there you have not come far; |
Evañhi dantā āyanti, |
For thus the tamed come, |
satthu pādāni vandikā; |
Paying homage to the Teacher’s feet; |
Vītarāgā visaṁyuttā, |
Free from lust, disjoined, |
katakiccā anāsavā”. |
With their task done, without taints.” |
… Sundarī therī …. |
… The senior nun Sundarī …. |
--- Thig13.5 Subhākammāradhītutherīgāthā --- |
--- The Verses of the Senior Nun Subhākammāradhītu --- |
“Daharāhaṁ suddhavasanā, |
“Young and clad in white, |
yaṁ pure dhammamassuṇiṁ; |
When I first heard the Dhamma; |
Tassā me appamattāya, |
For me who was diligent, |
saccābhisamayo ahu. |
The realization of the truth occurred. |
Tatohaṁ sabbakāmesu, |
Then I found great dispassion, |
bhusaṁ aratimajjhagaṁ; |
For all sensual pleasures; |
Sakkāyasmiṁ bhayaṁ disvā, |
Seeing fear in my own body, |
nekkhammameva pīhaye. |
I longed only for renunciation. |
Hitvānahaṁ ñātigaṇaṁ, |
I, having left my relatives, |
dāsakammakarāni ca; |
And my servants and workers; |
Gāmakhettāni phītāni, |
And the prosperous villages and fields, |
ramaṇīye pamodite. |
Delightful and pleasing. |
Pahāyahaṁ pabbajitā, |
Having abandoned, I went forth, |
sāpateyyamanappakaṁ; |
No small amount of wealth; |
Evaṁ saddhāya nikkhamma, |
Having thus gone forth in faith, |
saddhamme suppavedite. |
In the well-proclaimed good Dhamma. |
Netaṁ assa patirūpaṁ, |
This would not be fitting for me, |
Ākiñcaññañhi patthaye; |
I who desire nothingness; |
Yo jātarūpaṁ rajataṁ, |
That I, having renounced gold and silver, |
Chaḍḍetvā punarāgame. |
Should come back to it again. |
Rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ vā, |
Gold and silver, |
na bodhāya na santiyā; |
Are not for enlightenment, not for peace; |
Netaṁ samaṇasāruppaṁ, |
This is not fitting for a samaṇa, |
na etaṁ ariyaddhanaṁ. |
This is not the wealth of the noble ones. |
Lobhanaṁ madanañcetaṁ, |
This is greed and intoxication, |
mohanaṁ rajavaḍḍhanaṁ; |
Delusion and the increase of defilement; |
Sāsaṅkaṁ bahuāyāsaṁ, |
It is fraught with danger, full of trouble, |
natthi cettha dhuvaṁ ṭhiti. |
There is no lasting stability in it. |
Ettha rattā pamattā ca, |
Infatuated and heedless in this, |
saṅkiliṭṭhamanā narā; |
With defiled minds, people; |
Aññamaññena byāruddhā, |
Are at odds with one another, |
puthu kubbanti medhagaṁ. |
And create many quarrels. |
Vadho bandho parikleso, |
Slaying, bondage, affliction, |
jāni sokapariddavo; |
Loss, sorrow, and lamentation; |
Kāmesu adhipannānaṁ, |
For those attached to sensual pleasures, |
dissate byasanaṁ bahuṁ. |
Much misfortune is seen. |
Taṁ maṁ ñātī amittāva, |
You, my relatives, like enemies, |
kiṁ vo kāmesu yuñjatha; |
Why do you engage me in sensual pleasures? |
Jānātha maṁ pabbajitaṁ, |
Know that I have gone forth, |
kāmesu bhayadassiniṁ. |
Seeing fear in sensual pleasures. |
Na hiraññasuvaṇṇena, |
Not with gold and silver, |
parikkhīyanti āsavā; |
Are the taints destroyed; |
Amittā vadhakā kāmā, |
Sensual pleasures are enemies, murderers, |
sapattā sallabandhanā. |
Rivals, and a bondage of darts. |
Taṁ maṁ ñātī amittāva, |
You, my relatives, like enemies, |
kiṁ vo kāmesu yuñjatha; |
Why do you engage me in sensual pleasures? |
Jānātha maṁ pabbajitaṁ, |
Know that I have gone forth, |
muṇḍaṁ saṅghāṭipārutaṁ. |
Shaven, wearing the outer robe. |
Uttiṭṭhapiṇḍo uñcho ca, |
Leftover almsfood, gleanings, |
paṁsukūlañca cīvaraṁ; |
And a robe of rags; |
Etaṁ kho mama sāruppaṁ, |
This is indeed fitting for me, |
anagārūpanissayo. |
A support for homelessness. |
Vantā mahesīhi kāmā, |
Sensual pleasures have been vomited up by the great seers, |
ye dibbā ye ca mānusā; |
Both divine and human; |
Khemaṭṭhāne vimuttā te, |
They are liberated in the state of security, |
pattā te acalaṁ sukhaṁ. |
They have attained unshakable happiness. |
Māhaṁ kāmehi saṅgacchiṁ, |
May I not associate with sensual pleasures, |
yesu tāṇaṁ na vijjati; |
In which there is no protection; |
Amittā vadhakā kāmā, |
Sensual pleasures are enemies, murderers, |
aggikkhandhūpamā dukhā. |
Painful like a mass of fire. |
Paripantho esa bhayo, |
This is a perilous path, full of danger, |
savighāto sakaṇṭako; |
With obstacles and thorns; |
Gedho suvisamo ceso, |
This is a very crooked pitfall, |
mahanto mohanāmukho. |
A great opening to delusion. |
Upasaggo bhīmarūpo, |
A fearful obstacle, |
kāmā sappasirūpamā; |
Sensual pleasures are like the head of a snake; |
Ye bālā abhinandanti, |
Which fools delight in, |
andhabhūtā puthujjanā. |
Blinded, ordinary people. |
Kāmapaṅkena sattā hi, |
For stuck in the mud of sensual pleasures, |
bahū loke aviddasū; |
Many in the world are ignorant; |
Pariyantaṁ na jānanti, |
They do not know the end, |
jātiyā maraṇassa ca. |
Of birth and death. |
Duggatigamanaṁ maggaṁ, |
The path leading to a bad destination, |
manussā kāmahetukaṁ; |
People, for the sake of sensual pleasures; |
Bahuṁ ve paṭipajjanti, |
Indeed, undertake much, |
attano rogamāvahaṁ. |
Bringing disease upon themselves. |
Evaṁ amittajananā, |
Thus, generating enemies, |
tāpanā saṅkilesikā; |
Tormenting and defiling; |
Lokāmisā bandhanīyā, |
Worldly acquisitions, binding, |
kāmā maraṇabandhanā. |
Sensual pleasures are the bond of death. |
Ummādanā ullapanā, |
Maddening, deluding, |
kāmā cittappamaddino; |
Sensual pleasures crush the mind; |
Sattānaṁ saṅkilesāya, |
For the defilement of beings, |
khippaṁ mārena oḍḍitaṁ. |
Quickly snared by Māra. |
Anantādīnavā kāmā, |
Sensual pleasures have endless dangers, |
bahudukkhā mahāvisā; |
Much suffering, great poison; |
Appassādā raṇakarā, |
Of little taste, causing strife, |
sukkapakkhavisosanā. |
Drying up the white side. |
Sāhaṁ etādisaṁ katvā, |
I, having done such, |
byasanaṁ kāmahetukaṁ; |
Misfortune for the sake of sensual pleasures; |
Na taṁ paccāgamissāmi, |
Will not return to it, |
nibbānābhiratā sadā. |
Always delighting in Nibbāna. |
Raṇaṁ karitvā kāmānaṁ, |
Having made war on sensual pleasures, |
sītibhāvābhikaṅkhinī; |
Longing for the state of coolness; |
Appamattā vihassāmi, |
I will live diligently, |
sabbasaṁyojanakkhaye. |
In the destruction of all fetters. |
Asokaṁ virajaṁ khemaṁ, |
The sorrowless, stainless, secure, |
ariyaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ ujuṁ; |
Noble eightfold path, the straight one; |
Taṁ maggaṁ anugacchāmi, |
I follow that path, |
yena tiṇṇā mahesino”. |
By which the great seers have crossed over.” |
“Imaṁ passatha dhammaṭṭhaṁ, |
“See this one who stands on the Dhamma, |
subhaṁ kammāradhītaraṁ; |
Subhā, the blacksmith’s daughter; |
Anejaṁ upasampajja, |
Having attained the unshakable, |
rukkhamūlamhi jhāyati. |
She meditates at the root of a tree. |
Ajjaṭṭhamī pabbajitā, |
Today is the eighth day since she went forth, |
saddhā saddhammasobhanā; |
With faith, beautiful in the good Dhamma; |
Vinītuppalavaṇṇāya, |
Instructed by Uppalavaṇṇā, |
tevijjā maccuhāyinī. |
With the three true knowledges, she has overcome death. |
Sāyaṁ bhujissā anaṇā, |
This bhikkhunī, having faculties developed, |
bhikkhunī bhāvitindriyā; |
Will eat her almsfood without debt; |
Sabbayogavisaṁyuttā, |
Disjoined from all yokes, |
katakiccā anāsavā”. |
With her task done, without taints.” |
Taṁ sakko devasaṅghena, |
Sakka, with the host of devas, |
upasaṅkamma iddhiyā; |
Approached her with psychic power; |
Namassati bhūtapati, |
The lord of beings pays homage, |
subhaṁ kammāradhītaranti. |
To Subhā, the blacksmith’s daughter. |
… Subhā kammāradhītā therī …. |
… The senior nun Subhā, the blacksmith’s daughter …. |
Vīsatinipāto niṭṭhito. |
The Book of Twenties is finished. |
--- Thig14.1 Subhājīvakambavanikātherīgāthā --- |
--- The Verses of the Senior Nun Subhājīvakambavanikā --- |
Jīvakambavanaṁ rammaṁ, |
In the delightful Jīvaka's Mango Grove, |
Gacchantiṁ bhikkhuniṁ subhaṁ; |
A rogue blocked the bhikkhunī Subhā; |
Dhuttako sannivāresi, |
Subhā spoke to him. |
Tamenaṁ abravī subhā. |
“What have I done wrong to you, |
“Kiṁ te aparādhitaṁ mayā, |
That you stand blocking me? |
Yaṁ maṁ ovariyāna tiṭṭhasi; |
It is not proper for a man, O friend, |
Na hi pabbajitāya āvuso, |
To touch a woman who has gone forth. |
Puriso samphusanāya kappati. |
In the weighty teaching of my Teacher, |
Garuke mama satthusāsane, |
The training that has been taught by the Well-farer; |
Yā sikkhā sugatena desitā; |
A state of perfect purity, passionless, |
Parisuddhapadaṁ anaṅgaṇaṁ, |
Why do you stand blocking me? |
Kiṁ maṁ ovariyāna tiṭṭhasi. |
With a disturbed mind, you approach an undisturbed one, |
Āvilacitto anāvilaṁ, |
With passions, you approach one free from passion, passionless; |
Sarajo vītarajaṁ anaṅgaṇaṁ; |
With a mind liberated from everything, |
Sabbattha vimuttamānasaṁ, |
Why do you stand blocking me?” |
Kiṁ maṁ ovariyāna tiṭṭhasi”. |
“You are young and not ugly, |
“Daharā ca apāpikā casi, |
What will the going forth do for you? |
Kiṁ te pabbajjā karissati; |
Throw off the saffron robe, |
Nikkhipa kāsāyacīvaraṁ, |
Come, let us enjoy ourselves in the blossoming forest. |
Ehi ramāma supupphite vane. |
A sweet fragrance blows everywhere, |
Madhurañca pavanti sabbaso, |
From the trees covered with pollen; |
Kusumarajena samuṭṭhitā dumā; |
The beginning of spring is a happy season, |
Paṭhamavasanto sukho utu, |
Come, let us enjoy ourselves in the blossoming forest. |
Ehi ramāma supupphite vane. |
The trees with blossoming tops, |
Kusumitasikharā ca pādapā, |
Seem to roar, stirred by the wind; |
Abhigajjantiva māluteritā; |
What delight will there be for you, |
Kā tuyhaṁ rati bhavissati, |
If you go into the forest alone? |
Yadi ekā vanamogahissasi. |
Frequented by herds of wild animals, |
Vāḷamigasaṅghasevitaṁ, |
Roamed by rutting elephants and their mates; |
Kuñjaramattakareṇuloḷitaṁ; |
You wish to go alone, |
Asahāyikā gantumicchasi, |
Into the deserted, terrifying great forest. |
Rahitaṁ bhiṁsanakaṁ mahāvanaṁ. |
Like a doll made of gold, |
Tapanīyakatāva dhītikā, |
You wander, like an accharā in the Cittalatā garden; |
Vicarasi cittalateva accharā; |
With fine and lovely Kāsī cloths, |
Kāsikasukhumehi vaggubhi, |
You would shine, O incomparable one. |
Sobhasī suvasanehi nūpame. |
I would be under your control, |
Ahaṁ tava vasānugo siyaṁ, |
If we were to dwell in the inner forest; |
Yadi viharemase kānanantare; |
There is no living being, |
Na hi matthi tayā piyattaro, |
Dearer to me than you, O one with eyes like a kinnarī’s. |
Pāṇo kinnarimandalocane. |
If you will do my bidding, |
Yadi me vacanaṁ karissasi, |
Come, live happily at home; |
Sukhitā ehi agāramāvasa; |
Dwelling in a mansion protected from the wind, |
Pāsādanivātavāsinī, |
Let ladies attend on you. |
Parikammaṁ te karontu nāriyo. |
Wear fine Kāsī cloths, |
Kāsikasukhumāni dhāraya, |
And put on garlands and cosmetics; |
Abhiropehi ca mālavaṇṇakaṁ; |
I will make for you many kinds of ornaments, |
Kañcanamaṇimuttakaṁ bahuṁ, |
Of gold, jewels, and pearls. |
Vividhaṁ ābharaṇaṁ karomi te. |
On a new bed, auspicious, |
Sudhotarajapacchadaṁ subhaṁ, |
Covered with woolen blankets and cotton; |
Gonakatūlikasanthataṁ navaṁ; |
Mount the great and costly bed, |
Abhiruha sayanaṁ mahārahaṁ, |
Anointed with fragrant sandalwood. |
Candanamaṇḍitasāragandhikaṁ. |
Like a lotus sprung from the water, |
Uppalaṁ cudakā samuggataṁ, |
Which is frequented by non-humans; |
Yathā taṁ amanussasevitaṁ; |
So you, a celibate, |
Evaṁ tvaṁ brahmacārinī, |
Will go to old age with your own limbs.” |
Sakesaṅgesu jaraṁ gamissasi”. |
“What here do you consider essential, |
“Kiṁ te idha sārasammataṁ, |
In this body full of corpses, a charnel-ground-filler; |
Kuṇapapūramhi susānavaḍḍhane; |
In this perishable body, |
Bhedanadhamme kaḷevare, |
Which, seeing, you look upon with a dejected mind?” |
Yaṁ disvā vimano udikkhasi”. |
“Your eyes are like a gazelle’s, |
“Akkhīni ca tūriyāriva, |
Like a kinnarī’s in a mountain cave; |
Kinnariyāriva pabbatantare; |
Seeing your eyes, |
Tava me nayanāni dakkhiya, |
My sensual pleasure increases all the more. |
Bhiyyo kāmaratī pavaḍḍhati. |
Like the tips of a lotus, |
Uppalasikharopamāni te, |
On your face, pure as refined gold; |
Vimale hāṭakasannibhe mukhe; |
Seeing your eyes, |
Tava me nayanāni dakkhiya, |
My sensual desire increases all the more. |
Bhiyyo kāmaguṇo pavaḍḍhati. |
Even from afar, I remember you, |
Api dūragatā saramhase, |
With your long eyelashes and pure sight; |
Āyatapamhe visuddhadassane; |
There is nothing dearer to me, |
Na hi matthi tayā piyattaro, |
Than your eyes, O one with eyes like a kinnarī’s.” |
Nayanā kinnarimandalocane”. |
“You wish to go by the wrong path, |
“Apathena payātumicchasi, |
You are looking for the moon as a plaything; |
Candaṁ kīḷanakaṁ gavesasi; |
You wish to leap over Meru, |
Meruṁ laṅghetumicchasi, |
You who pursue a daughter of the Buddha. |
Yo tvaṁ buddhasutaṁ maggayasi. |
For there is no lust in the world, including the devas, |
Natthi hi loke sadevake, |
Where I could now have it; |
Rāgo yatthapi dāni me siyā; |
I do not even know what it is like, |
Napi naṁ jānāmi kīriso, |
For it has been destroyed by the path, root and all. |
Atha maggena hato samūlako. |
Like a charcoal pit thrown out, |
Iṅgālakuyāva ujjhito, |
Like a poison cup broken at the top; |
Visapattoriva aggito kato; |
I do not even see what it is like, |
Napi naṁ passāmi kīriso, |
For it has been destroyed by the path, root and all. |
Atha maggena hato samūlako. |
For one who might have been unreflecting, |
Yassā siyā apaccavekkhitaṁ, |
Or had not attended on the Teacher; |
Satthā vā anupāsito siyā; |
You might tempt such a one, |
Tvaṁ tādisikaṁ palobhaya, |
You torment this one who knows. |
Jānantiṁ so imaṁ vihaññasi. |
For me, in blame and praise, |
Mayhañhi akkuṭṭhavandite, |
And in pleasure and pain, mindfulness is established; |
Sukhadukkhe ca satī upaṭṭhitā; |
Knowing that conditioned things are unattractive, |
Saṅkhatamasubhanti jāniya, |
My mind does not cling anywhere at all. |
Sabbattheva mano na limpati. |
I am a disciple of the Well-farer, |
Sāhaṁ sugatassa sāvikā, |
Traveling on the eightfold path vehicle; |
Maggaṭṭhaṅgikayānayāyinī; |
With the dart pulled out, without taints, |
Uddhaṭasallā anāsavā, |
I delight, having gone to an empty dwelling. |
Suññāgāragatā ramāmahaṁ. |
I have seen well-painted, |
Diṭṭhā hi mayā sucittitā, |
Puppets or wooden dolls; |
Sombhā dārukapillakāni vā; |
Bound together with strings and pins, |
Tantīhi ca khīlakehi ca, |
Made to dance in various ways. |
Vinibaddhā vividhaṁ panaccakā. |
When the strings and pins are removed, |
Tamhuddhaṭe tantikhīlake, |
Loosened, disordered, and scattered; |
Vissaṭṭhe vikale parikrite; |
You would not find it in pieces, |
Na vindeyya khaṇḍaso kate, |
On what would you set your mind there? |
Kimhi tattha manaṁ nivesaye. |
My bodies are like that, |
Tathūpamā dehakāni maṁ, |
They do not exist without those qualities; |
Tehi dhammehi vinā na vattanti; |
They do not exist without qualities, |
Dhammehi vinā na vattati, |
On what would you set your mind there? |
Kimhi tattha manaṁ nivesaye. |
Like a painting on a wall, |
Yathā haritālena makkhitaṁ, |
You saw, smeared with yellow orpiment; |
Addasa cittikaṁ bhittiyā kataṁ; |
In that you had a perverted view, |
Tamhi te viparītadassanaṁ, |
Your human perception is worthless. |
Saññā mānusikā niratthikā. |
Like an illusion created at the top, |
Māyaṁ viya aggato kataṁ, |
Like a golden tree in a dream; |
Supinanteva suvaṇṇapādapaṁ; |
You approach, O blind one, an empty thing, |
Upagacchasi andha rittakaṁ, |
Like a silver image in the midst of a crowd. |
Janamajjheriva rupparūpakaṁ. |
Like a bubble in a hollow, |
Vaṭṭaniriva koṭarohitā, |
In the middle of a bubble with tears; |
Majjhe pubbuḷakā saassukā; |
A tear-drop is born there, |
Pīḷakoḷikā cettha jāyati, |
And the various kinds of eye are gathered together.” |
Vividhā cakkhuvidhā ca piṇḍitā”. |
Having plucked out her eye, the one with lovely sight, |
Uppāṭiya cārudassanā, |
She was not attached, her mind was unattached; |
Na ca pajjittha asaṅgamānasā; |
“Here, take your eye,” |
“Handa te cakkhuṁ harassu taṁ”, |
She gave it to that man at once. |
Tassa narassa adāsi tāvade. |
And his lust ceased at once, |
Tassa ca viramāsi tāvade, |
And he begged her for forgiveness; |
Rāgo tattha khamāpayī ca naṁ; |
“May you be well, O celibate one, |
“Sotthi siyā brahmacārinī, |
Such a thing will not happen again.” |
Na puno edisakaṁ bhavissati”. |
“Having accosted such a person, |
“Āsādiya edisaṁ janaṁ, |
And touched a blazing fire; |
Aggiṁ pajjalitaṁva liṅgiya; |
And seized a venomous snake, |
Gaṇhiya āsīvisaṁ viya, |
May you be well, forgive us.” |
Api nu sotthi siyā khamehi no”. |
And that bhikkhunī, released from there, |
Muttā ca tato sā bhikkhunī, |
Went to the presence of the supreme Buddha; |
Agamī buddhavarassa santikaṁ; |
Seeing the marks of great merit, |
Passiya varapuññalakkhaṇaṁ, |
Her eye was as it had been before. |
Cakkhu āsi yathā purāṇakanti. |
… The senior nun Subhā of Jīvaka’s Mango Grove …. |
… Subhā jīvakambavanikā therī …. |
The Book of Thirties is finished. |
Tiṁsanipāto niṭṭhito. |
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♦ The Book of Fifteens |
--- Thig15.1 Isidāsītherīgāthā --- |
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In the city named Kusuma, |
Nagaramhi kusumanāme, |
Pāṭaliputta, the jewel of the earth; |
Pāṭaliputtamhi pathaviyā maṇḍe; |
There were two bhikkhunīs of noble Sakyan families, |
Sakyakulakulīnāyo, |
Both virtuous. |
Dve bhikkhuniyo hi guṇavatiyo. |
One was Isidāsī, |
Isidāsī tattha ekā, |
The second was Bodhi, also endowed with virtue; |
Dutiyā bodhīti sīlasampannā ca; |
They were devoted to meditation and jhānas, |
Jhānajjhāyanaratāyo, |
Learned and with their defilements washed away. |
Bahussutāyo dhutakilesāyo. |
Having gone for alms, |
Tā piṇḍāya caritvā, |
And having finished their meal, with their bowls washed; |
Bhattatthaṁ kariya dhotapattāyo; |
Seated comfortably in a secluded place, |
Rahitamhi sukhanisinnā, |
They uttered these words. |
Imā girā abbhudīresuṁ. |
“You are graceful, O venerable one, |
“Pāsādikāsi ayye, |
Isidāsi, and your age has not declined; |
Isidāsi vayopi te aparihīno; |
Seeing what fault, |
Kiṁ disvāna byālikaṁ, |
Did you apply yourself to renunciation?” |
Athāsi nekkhammamanuyuttā”. |
Being thus questioned, she, |
Evamanuyuñjiyamānā sā, |
Skilled in teaching the Dhamma in seclusion; |
Rahite dhammadesanākusalā; |
Isidāsī spoke these words, |
Isidāsī vacanamabravi, |
“Listen, Bodhi, how I went forth.” |
“Suṇa bodhi yathāmhi pabbajitā”. |
“In the excellent city of Ujjeni, |
“Ujjeniyā puravare, |
My father was a merchant, restrained in virtue; |
Mayhaṁ pitā sīlasaṁvuto seṭṭhi; |
I was his only daughter, |
Tassamhi ekadhītā, |
Dear, pleasing, and beloved. |
Piyā manāpā ca dayitā ca. |
Then from Sāketa, suitors, |
Atha me sāketato varakā, |
Of the highest family, came for me; |
Āgacchumuttamakulīnā; |
A merchant of great wealth, |
Seṭṭhī pahūtaratano, |
To him my father gave me as a daughter-in-law. |
Tassa mamaṁ suṇhamadāsi tāto. |
To my mother-in-law and father-in-law, |
Sassuyā sasurassa ca, |
Morning and evening, I would go to pay homage; |
Sāyaṁ pātaṁ paṇāmamupagamma; |
I would bow my head to their feet, |
Sirasā karomi pāde, |
And pay homage as I was instructed. |
Vandāmi yathāmhi anusiṭṭhā. |
My husband’s, |
Yā mayhaṁ sāmikassa, |
Sisters, brothers, or servants; |
Bhaginiyo bhātuno parijano vā; |
Seeing even one of them, |
Tamekavarakampi disvā, |
I would rise from my seat in trepidation. |
Ubbiggā āsanaṁ demi. |
With food and drink, |
Annena ca pānena ca, |
And with sweets, whatever was there; |
Khajjena ca yañca tattha sannihitaṁ; |
I would cover and serve it, |
Chādemi upanayāmi ca, |
And give what was appropriate to each. |
Demi ca yaṁ yassa patirūpaṁ. |
Having attended to them at the right time, |
Kālena upaṭṭhahitvā, |
I would go to the threshold of the house; |
Gharaṁ samupagamāmi ummāre; |
Washing my hands and feet, |
Dhovantī hatthapāde, |
I would approach my husband with an añjali. |
Pañjalikā sāmikamupemi. |
Taking a comb, cosmetics, and antimony, |
Kocchaṁ pasādaṁ añjaniñca, |
And a mirror; |
Ādāsakañca gaṇhitvā; |
Like a personal attendant, |
Parikammakārikā viya, |
I would adorn my husband myself. |
Sayameva patiṁ vibhūsemi. |
I would cook the rice myself, |
Sayameva odanaṁ sādhayāmi, |
And wash the dishes myself; |
Sayameva bhājanaṁ dhovantī; |
Like a mother her only son, |
Mātāva ekaputtakaṁ, |
So I served my husband. |
Tathā bhattāraṁ paricarāmi. |
Thus devoted to my husband, |
Evaṁ maṁ bhattikataṁ, |
Affectionate, dutiful, with pride subdued; |
Anurattaṁ kārikaṁ nihatamānaṁ; |
Industrious, not lazy, |
Uṭṭhāyikaṁ analasaṁ, |
Virtuous, my husband hated me. |
Sīlavatiṁ dussate bhattā. |
He said to his mother and father, |
So mātarañca pitarañca, |
‘I will ask permission to go; |
Bhaṇati ‘āpucchahaṁ gamissāmi; |
I will not live with Isidāsī, |
Isidāsiyā na saha vacchaṁ, |
I will not live in the same house with her.’ |
Ekāgārehaṁ saha vatthuṁ’. |
‘Do not speak thus, my son, |
‘Mā evaṁ putta avaca, |
Isidāsī is wise and accomplished; |
Isidāsī paṇḍitā paribyattā; |
Industrious, not lazy, |
Uṭṭhāyikā analasā, |
What about her does not please you, my son?’ |
Kiṁ tuyhaṁ na rocate putta’. |
‘She does me no harm, |
‘Na ca me hiṁsati kiñci, |
But I will not live with Isidāsī; |
Na cahaṁ isidāsiyā saha vacchaṁ; |
She is hateful to me, I have had enough of her, |
Dessāva me alaṁ me, |
I will ask permission to go.’ |
Apucchāhaṁ gamissāmi’. |
Having heard his words, |
Tassa vacanaṁ suṇitvā, |
My mother-in-law and father-in-law asked me; |
Sassu sasuro ca maṁ apucchiṁsu; |
‘What wrong have you done? |
‘Kissa tayā aparaddhaṁ, |
Speak freely, as it really is.’ |
Bhaṇa vissaṭṭhā yathābhūtaṁ’. |
‘I have done no wrong at all, |
‘Napihaṁ aparajjhaṁ kiñci, |
I do not harm him, nor do I speak harshly; |
Napi hiṁsemi na bhaṇāmi dubbacanaṁ; |
What can be done, O venerable ones, |
Kiṁ sakkā kātuyye, |
If my husband hates me?’ |
Yaṁ maṁ viddessate bhattā’. |
They took me back to my father’s house, |
Te maṁ pitugharaṁ paṭinayiṁsu, |
Dejected and overcome with sorrow; |
Vimanā dukhena adhibhūtā; |
Protecting their son, they said, |
Puttamanurakkhamānā, |
‘We have won a beautiful Lakkhī.’ |
‘Jitāmhase rūpiniṁ lakkhiṁ’. |
Then my father gave me, |
Atha maṁ adāsi tāto, |
To a second family, in the house of a rich man; |
Aḍḍhassa gharamhi dutiyakulikassa; |
For half the price, |
Tato upaḍḍhasuṅkena, |
With which the merchant had obtained me. |
Yena maṁ vindatha seṭṭhi. |
I lived in his house for a month, |
Tassapi gharamhi māsaṁ, |
Then he too sent me back; |
Avasiṁ atha sopi maṁ paṭiccharayi; |
Though I served him like a slave, |
Dāsīva upaṭṭhahantiṁ, |
Innocent and endowed with virtue. |
Adūsikaṁ sīlasampannaṁ. |
To a tamer who was wandering for alms, |
Bhikkhāya ca vicarantaṁ, |
Tamed, my father said; |
Damakaṁ dantaṁ me pitā bhaṇati; |
‘You will be my son-in-law, |
‘Hohisi me jāmātā, |
Put down your bag and bowl.’ |
Nikkhipa poṭṭhiñca ghaṭikañca’. |
He too, having lived for a fortnight, |
Sopi vasitvā pakkhaṁ, |
Then said to my father, ‘Give me my bag; |
Atha tātaṁ bhaṇati ‘dehi me poṭṭhiṁ; |
And my bowl and my pot, |
Ghaṭikañca mallakañca, |
I will go on alms round again.’ |
Punapi bhikkhaṁ carissāmi’. |
Then my father said to him, |
Atha naṁ bhaṇatī tāto, |
My mother and all my relatives; |
Ammā sabbo ca me ñātigaṇavaggo; |
‘What is not done for you here? |
‘Kiṁ te na kīrati idha, |
Speak quickly, it will be done for you.’ |
Bhaṇa khippaṁ taṁ te karihi’ti. |
Being spoken to thus, he said, |
Evaṁ bhaṇito bhaṇati, |
‘If I can do it myself, that is enough for me; |
‘Yadi me attā sakkoti alaṁ mayhaṁ; |
I will not live with Isidāsī, |
Isidāsiyā na saha vacchaṁ, |
I will not live in the same house with her.’ |
Ekagharehaṁ saha vatthuṁ’. |
Being dismissed, he went, |
Vissajjito gato so, |
And I, all alone, thought; |
Ahampi ekākinī vicintemi; |
‘I will ask permission to go, |
‘Āpucchitūna gacchaṁ, |
To die or to go forth.’ |
Marituye vā pabbajissaṁ vā’. |
Then the venerable Jinadattā, |
Atha ayyā jinadattā, |
Came, wandering for her alms round; |
Āgacchī gocarāya caramānā; |
To my father’s family, a keeper of the Vinaya, |
Tātakulaṁ vinayadharī, |
Learned and endowed with virtue. |
Bahussutā sīlasampannā. |
Seeing her in our house, |
Taṁ disvāna amhākaṁ, |
I arose and prepared a seat for her; |
Uṭṭhāyāsanaṁ tassā paññāpayiṁ; |
When she was seated, I paid homage, |
Nisinnāya ca pāde, |
To her feet, and gave her food. |
Vanditvā bhojanamadāsiṁ. |
With food and drink, |
Annena ca pānena ca, |
And with sweets, whatever was there; |
Khajjena ca yañca tattha sannihitaṁ; |
Having satisfied her, I said, |
Santappayitvā avacaṁ, |
‘Venerable one, I wish to go forth.’ |
‘Ayye icchāmi pabbajituṁ’. |
Then my father said to me, |
Atha maṁ bhaṇatī tāto, |
‘Practice the Dhamma right here, my child; |
‘Idheva puttaka carāhi tvaṁ dhammaṁ; |
With food and drink, |
Annena ca pānena ca, |
Satisfy the samaṇas and brahmins.’ |
Tappaya samaṇe dvijātī ca’. |
Then I said to my father, |
Athahaṁ bhaṇāmi tātaṁ, |
Weeping, with my hands in an añjali; |
Rodantī añjaliṁ paṇāmetvā; |
‘I have indeed done bad, |
‘Pāpañhi mayā pakataṁ, |
Kamma, I will wear it out.’ |
Kammaṁ taṁ nijjaressāmi’. |
Then my father said to me, |
Atha maṁ bhaṇatī tāto, |
‘Attain enlightenment and the supreme Dhamma; |
‘Pāpuṇa bodhiñca aggadhammañca; |
And attain Nibbāna, |
Nibbānañca labhassu, |
Which the supreme of two-footed beings realized.’ |
Yaṁ sacchikarī dvipadaseṭṭho’. |
Having paid homage to my mother and father, |
Mātāpitū abhivādayitvā, |
And to all my relatives; |
Sabbañca ñātigaṇavaggaṁ; |
Seven days after going forth, |
Sattāhaṁ pabbajitā, |
I touched the three true knowledges. |
Tisso vijjā aphassayiṁ. |
I know my own seven, |
Jānāmi attano satta, |
Births, of which this is the fruit and result; |
Jātiyo yassayaṁ phalavipāko; |
I will tell it to you, |
Taṁ tava ācikkhissaṁ, |
Listen with a concentrated mind. |
Taṁ ekamanā nisāmehi. |
In the city of Erakaccha, |
Nagaramhi erakacche, |
I was a goldsmith of great wealth; |
Suvaṇṇakāro ahaṁ pahūtadhano; |
Intoxicated with the intoxication of youth, |
Yobbanamadena matto, |
I committed adultery. |
So paradāraṁ asevihaṁ. |
I, having passed away from there, |
Sohaṁ tato cavitvā, |
Was boiled in hell for a long time; |
Nirayamhi apaccisaṁ ciraṁ; |
And having arisen from there, |
Pakko tato ca uṭṭhahitvā, |
I entered the womb of a she-monkey. |
Makkaṭiyā kucchimokkamiṁ. |
When I was seven days old, |
Sattāhajātakaṁ maṁ, |
The great ape, the leader of the troop, castrated me; |
Mahākapi yūthapo nillacchesi; |
This is the fruit of that kamma, |
Tassetaṁ kammaphalaṁ, |
Of having gone to another’s wife. |
Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ. |
I, having passed away from there, |
Sohaṁ tato cavitvā, |
Having died in the Sindhu forest; |
Kālaṁ karitvā sindhavāraññe; |
I entered the womb of a she-goat, |
Kāṇāya ca khañjāya ca, |
That was one-eyed and lame. |
Eḷakiyā kucchimokkamiṁ. |
For twelve years, I, |
Dvādasa vassāni ahaṁ, |
Castrated, carried the boys; |
Nillacchito dārake parivahitvā; |
Covered with worms, unable to walk, |
Kimināvaṭṭo akallo, |
Of having gone to another’s wife. |
Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ. |
I, having passed away from there, |
Sohaṁ tato cavitvā, |
Was born of a cow belonging to a cattle-trader; |
Govāṇijakassa gāviyā jāto; |
A calf, red as lac, |
Vaccho lākhātambo, |
Castrated at twelve months. |
Nillacchito dvādase māse. |
Having been yoked, I pulled the plough, |
Voḍhūna naṅgalamahaṁ, |
And I pulled the cart; |
Sakaṭañca dhārayāmi; |
One-eyed and unable to walk, |
Andhovaṭṭo akallo, |
Of having gone to another’s wife. |
Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ. |
I, having passed away from there, |
Sohaṁ tato cavitvā, |
Was born in the house of a slave woman in the street; |
Vīthiyā dāsiyā ghare jāto; |
Neither a woman nor a man, |
Neva mahilā na puriso, |
Of having gone to another’s wife. |
Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ. |
Having died at the age of thirty, |
Tiṁsativassamhi mato, |
I was born as a girl in the family of a carter; |
Sākaṭikakulamhi dārikā jātā; |
In a poor family with little property, |
Kapaṇamhi appabhoge, |
With many men as creditors. |
Dhanika purisapātabahulamhi. |
Then a caravan leader, |
Taṁ maṁ tato satthavāho, |
With a large and high interest; |
Ussannāya vipulāya vaḍḍhiyā; |
Dragged me away as I was wailing, |
Okaḍḍhati vilapantiṁ, |
Having snatched me from my family’s house. |
Acchinditvā kulagharasmā. |
Then in my sixteenth year, |
Atha soḷasame vasse, |
Seeing me, a girl who had reached puberty; |
Disvā maṁ pattayobbanaṁ kaññaṁ; |
His son took me as his wife, |
Orundhatassa putto, |
Named Giridāsa. |
Giridāso nāma nāmena. |
He also had another wife, |
Tassapi aññā bhariyā, |
Virtuous, with good qualities, and renowned; |
Sīlavatī guṇavatī yasavatī ca; |
Affectionate to her husband, |
Anurattā bhattāraṁ, |
I created discord against her. |
Tassāhaṁ viddesanamakāsiṁ. |
This is the fruit of that kamma, |
Tassetaṁ kammaphalaṁ, |
That they send me away and go; |
Yaṁ maṁ apakīritūna gacchanti; |
Though I served him like a slave, |
Dāsīva upaṭṭhahantiṁ, |
I have paid for that.” |
Tassapi anto kato mayā”ti. |
… The senior nun Isidāsī …. |
… Isidāsī therī …. |
The Book of Forties is finished. |
Cattālīsanipāto niṭṭhito. |
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♦ The Book of Sixteens |
--- Thig16.1 Sumedhātherīgāthā --- |
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In the city of Mantāvatī, |
Mantāvatiyā nagare, |
To the chief queen of King Koñca; |
Rañño koñcassa aggamahesiyā; |
I was born as the daughter Sumedhā, |
Dhītā āsiṁ sumedhā, |
Devoted to the doers of the teaching. |
Pasāditā sāsanakarehi. |
Virtuous, a eloquent speaker, |
Sīlavatī cittakathā, |
Learned, trained in the Buddha’s teaching; |
Bahussutā buddhasāsane vinitā; |
Having approached her mother and father, |
Mātāpitaro upagamma, |
She said, “Listen, both of you. |
Bhaṇati “ubhayo nisāmetha. |
I delight in Nibbāna, |
Nibbānābhiratāhaṁ, |
Even if divine existence is impermanent; |
Asassataṁ bhavagataṁ yadipi dibbaṁ; |
What then of empty sensual pleasures, |
Kimaṅgaṁ pana tucchā kāmā, |
Of little taste and many troubles? |
Appassādā bahuvighātā. |
Sensual pleasures are bitter, like venom, |
Kāmā kaṭukā āsī, |
In which foolish people are infatuated; |
Visūpamā yesu mucchitā bālā; |
For a long time in hell, |
Te dīgharattaṁ niraye, |
Consigned, they are struck down, suffering. |
Samappitā haññante dukkhitā. |
They grieve, the evil-doers, |
Socanti pāpakammā, |
Always in a bad destination, increasing their evil; |
Vinipāte pāpavaddhino sadā; |
In body, speech, |
Kāyena ca vācāya ca, |
And mind, the unrestrained fools. |
Manasā ca asaṁvutā bālā. |
Those fools are of bad wisdom, |
Bālā te duppaññā, |
Unconscious, obstructed by the origin of suffering; |
Acetanā dukkhasamudayoruddhā; |
Being taught, they do not understand, |
Desente ajānantā, |
They do not comprehend the noble truths. |
Na bujjhare ariyasaccāni. |
The truths, mother, taught by the supreme Buddha, |
Saccāni amma buddhavaradesitāni, |
Those who do not know are very many; |
Te bahutarā ajānantā ye; |
They delight in existence, |
Abhinandanti bhavagataṁ, |
They long for rebirth among the devas. |
Pihenti devesu upapattiṁ. |
Even rebirth among the devas, |
Devesupi upapatti, |
Is impermanent, in a transient existence; |
Asassatā bhavagate aniccamhi; |
But the fools are not afraid, |
Na ca santasanti bālā, |
Of being born again and again. |
Punappunaṁ jāyitabbassa. |
There are four states of loss, |
Cattāro vinipātā, |
And two destinations are somehow obtained; |
Duve ca gatiyo kathañci labbhanti; |
But for those gone to a state of loss, |
Na ca vinipātagatānaṁ, |
There is no going forth in hell. |
Pabbajjā atthi nirayesu. |
Permit me, both of you, |
Anujānātha maṁ ubhayo, |
To go forth in the teaching of the one with the ten powers; |
Pabbajituṁ dasabalassa pāvacane; |
With little anxiety, I will strive, |
Appossukkā ghaṭissaṁ, |
For the abandoning of birth and death. |
Jātimaraṇappahānāya. |
What is there to delight in in existence, |
Kiṁ bhavagate abhinanditena, |
In this foul body, without essence? |
Kāyakalinā asārena; |
For the cessation of the craving for existence, |
Bhavataṇhāya nirodhā, |
Permit me, I will go forth. |
Anujānātha pabbajissāmi. |
The arising of Buddhas has been missed, |
Buddhānaṁ uppādo vivajjito, |
The moment, the right time has been obtained; |
Akkhaṇo khaṇo laddho; |
Virtue and the holy life, |
Sīlāni brahmacariyaṁ, |
For as long as I live, I will not defile.” |
Yāvajīvaṁ na dūseyyaṁ”. |
Thus Sumedhā speaks, |
Evaṁ bhaṇati sumedhā, |
To her mother and father, “I will not take food; |
Mātāpitaro “na tāva āhāraṁ; |
While remaining a layperson, |
Āharissaṁ gahaṭṭhā, |
I will rather be subject to death.” |
Maraṇavasaṁ gatāva hessāmi”. |
Her mother, afflicted with sorrow, weeps, and her father, |
Mātā dukkhitā rodati pitā ca, |
Is completely overcome by her; |
Assā sabbaso samabhihato; |
They try to persuade her, |
Ghaṭenti saññāpetuṁ, |
As she lies fallen on the floor of the palace. |
Pāsādatale chamāpatitaṁ. |
“Get up, my child, why do you grieve? |
“Uṭṭhehi puttaka kiṁ soci, |
You have been given to the one from Vāraṇavatī; |
Tena dinnāsi vāraṇavatimhi; |
King Anīkaratta, |
Rājā anīkaratto, |
Handsome, to him you have been given. |
Abhirūpo tassa tvaṁ dinnā. |
You will be the chief queen, |
Aggamahesī bhavissasi, |
The wife of King Anikaratta; |
Anikarattassa rājino bhariyā; |
Virtue and the holy life, |
Sīlāni brahmacariyaṁ, |
The going forth is difficult, my child. |
Pabbajjā dukkarā puttaka. |
In the kingdom there is power, wealth, and sovereignty, |
Rajje āṇā dhanamissariyaṁ, |
Possessions and happiness, you are young; |
Bhogā sukhā daharikāsi; |
Enjoy sensual pleasures, |
Bhuñjāhi kāmabhoge, |
May the marriage take place for you, my child.” |
Vāreyyaṁ hotu te putta”. |
Then Sumedhā says to them, |
Atha ne bhaṇati sumedhā, |
“May there not be such things, existence is without essence; |
“Mā edisikāni bhavagatamasāraṁ; |
Either the going forth will happen, |
Pabbajjā vā hohiti, |
Or my death, but not the marriage. |
Maraṇaṁ vā me na ceva vāreyyaṁ. |
Why would I lie down with a foul, impure body, |
Kimiva pūtikāyamasuciṁ, |
With a foul smell, fearful, a corpse; |
Savanagandhaṁ bhayānakaṁ kuṇapaṁ; |
A bag, always oozing, |
Abhisaṁviseyyaṁ bhastaṁ, |
Full of impurity? |
Asakiṁ paggharitaṁ asucipuṇṇaṁ. |
Why, knowing it, |
Kimiva tahaṁ jānantī, |
Abominable, smeared with flesh and blood; |
Vikūlakaṁ maṁsasoṇitupalittaṁ; |
A nest of worms, food for birds, |
Kimikulālayaṁ sakuṇabhattaṁ, |
Why is a body given? |
Kaḷevaraṁ kissa diyyati. |
It is carried out to the charnel ground, |
Nibbuyhati susānaṁ, |
The body, soon deprived of consciousness; |
Aciraṁ kāyo apetaviññāṇo; |
Thrown away like a log, |
Chuddho kaḷiṅgaraṁ viya, |
By relatives who are disgusted. |
Jigucchamānehi ñātīhi. |
Having thrown it away in the charnel ground, |
Chuddhūna naṁ susāne, |
As food for others, they bathe, being disgusted; |
Parabhattaṁ nhāyanti jigucchantā; |
Their own mother and father, |
Niyakā mātāpitaro, |
What then of ordinary people? |
Kiṁ pana sādhāraṇā janatā. |
They are attached to the worthless, |
Ajjhositā asāre, |
Body, a collection of bones and sinews; |
Kaḷevare aṭṭhinhārusaṅghāte; |
Full of saliva and excrement, |
Kheḷassuccārassava, |
In a foul body. |
Paripuṇṇe pūtikāyamhi. |
One who would dissect it, |
Yo naṁ vinibbhujitvā, |
And turn its inside out; |
Abbhantaramassa bāhiraṁ kayirā; |
Unable to bear the smell, |
Gandhassa asahamānā, |
Even one’s own mother would be disgusted. |
Sakāpi mātā jiguccheyya. |
The aggregates, elements, and sense bases, |
Khandhadhātuāyatanaṁ, |
Conditioned, with birth as their root, suffering; |
Saṅkhataṁ jātimūlakaṁ dukkhaṁ; |
Investigating with wisdom, |
Yoniso anuvicinantī, |
Why would I desire marriage? |
Vāreyyaṁ kissa iccheyyaṁ. |
Every day, three hundred, |
Divase divase tisatti, |
New spears would fall on the body; |
Satāni navanavā pateyyuṁ kāyamhi; |
And a hundred years of being struck, |
Vassasatampi ca ghāto, |
Would be better, for thus suffering would end. |
Seyyo dukkhassa cevaṁ khayo. |
One should undergo being struck, |
Ajjhupagacche ghātaṁ, |
Who knows thus the Teacher’s word; |
Yo viññāyevaṁ satthuno vacanaṁ; |
‘Long is their saṁsāra, |
‘Dīgho tesaṁ saṁsāro, |
Of those who are struck down again and again.’ |
Punappunaṁ haññamānānaṁ’. |
Among devas and humans, |
Devesu manussesu ca, |
In the animal realm and the asura world; |
Tiracchānayoniyā asurakāye; |
And among the pretas and in hell, |
Petesu ca nirayesu ca, |
Innumerable slayings are seen. |
Aparimitā dissare ghātā. |
Many slayings in hell, |
Ghātā nirayesu bahū, |
For one who has gone to a state of loss, being tormented; |
Vinipātagatassa pīḷiyamānassa; |
Even among the devas, there is no protection, |
Devesupi attāṇaṁ, |
There is nothing higher than the happiness of Nibbāna. |
Nibbānasukhā paraṁ natthi. |
They have attained Nibbāna, |
Pattā te nibbānaṁ, |
Who are devoted to the teaching of the one with the ten powers; |
Ye yuttā dasabalassa pāvacane; |
With little anxiety, they strive, |
Appossukkā ghaṭenti, |
For the abandoning of birth and death. |
Jātimaraṇappahānāya. |
Today itself, father, I will go forth, |
Ajjeva tātabhinikkha- |
What is there in worthless possessions? |
Missaṁ bhogehi kiṁ asārehi; |
I am weary of sensual pleasures, |
Nibbinnā me kāmā, |
Vomited up, made like a palm stump.” |
Vantasamā tālavatthukatā”. |
As she was speaking thus to her father, |
Sā cevaṁ bhaṇati pitara- |
Anīkaratta, to whom she had been given; |
Manīkaratto ca yassa sā dinnā; |
Approached Vāraṇavatī, |
Upayāsi vāraṇavate, |
The time for the marriage had arrived. |
Vāreyyamupaṭṭhite kāle. |
Then, with her dark hair wet with water, |
Atha asitanicitamuduke, |
Sumedhā cut it with a sword; |
Kese khaggena chindiya sumedhā; |
Having closed the palace, |
Pāsādaṁ pidahitvā, |
She attained the first jhānas. |
Paṭhamajjhānaṁ samāpajji. |
And as she was absorbed there, |
Sā ca tahiṁ samāpannā, |
Anīkaratta arrived in the city; |
Anīkaratto ca āgato nagaraṁ; |
And in the palace, Sumedhā, |
Pāsāde ca sumedhā, |
Developed the perception of impermanence. |
Aniccasaññaṁ subhāveti. |
And as she was attending to this, |
Sā ca manasi karoti, |
Anīkaratta ascended quickly; |
Anīkaratto ca āruhī turitaṁ; |
His limbs adorned with jewels and gold, |
Maṇikanakabhūsitaṅgo, |
He begged Sumedhā with an añjali. |
Katañjalī yācati sumedhaṁ. |
“In the kingdom there is power, wealth, and sovereignty, |
“Rajje āṇādhanamissa- |
Possessions and happiness, you are young; |
Riyaṁ bhogā sukhā daharikāsi; |
Enjoy sensual pleasures, |
Bhuñjāhi kāmabhoge, |
The happiness of sensual pleasures is hard to find in the world. |
Kāmasukhā dullabhā loke. |
The kingdom has been handed over to you, |
Nissaṭṭhaṁ te rajjaṁ, |
Enjoy the possessions, give gifts; |
Bhoge bhuñjassu dehi dānāni; |
Do not be dejected, |
Mā dummanā ahosi, |
Your mother and father are afflicted with sorrow.” |
Mātāpitaro te dukkhitā”. |
Sumedhā, who has no desire for sensual pleasures, |
Taṁ taṁ bhaṇati sumedhā, |
And whose delusion has gone, says to him; |
Kāmehi anatthikā vigatamohā; |
“Do not delight in sensual pleasures, |
“Mā kāme abhinandi, |
See the danger in sensual pleasures. |
Kāmesvādīnavaṁ passa. |
The king of the four continents, |
Cātuddīpo rājā, |
Mandhātā, was the leader of those who enjoy sensual pleasures; |
Mandhātā āsi kāmabhoginamaggo; |
Unsatisfied, he died, |
Atitto kālaṅkato, |
And his desires were not fulfilled. |
Na cassa paripūritā icchā. |
If it were to rain seven kinds of jewels, |
Satta ratanāni vasseyya, |
A rain from the ten directions all around; |
Vuṭṭhimā dasadisā samantena; |
There would be no satisfaction in sensual pleasures, |
Na catthi titti kāmānaṁ, |
Men die unsatisfied. |
Atittāva maranti narā. |
Sensual pleasures are like swords and stakes, |
Asisūnūpamā kāmā, |
Sensual pleasures are like the heads of snakes; |
kāmā sappasiropamā; |
They burn like a firebrand, |
Ukkopamā anudahanti, |
They are like a skeleton. |
aṭṭhikaṅkala sannibhā. |
Impermanent and unstable are sensual pleasures, |
Aniccā adhuvā kāmā, |
Full of suffering, great poison; |
bahudukkhā mahāvisā; |
Like a heated iron ball, |
Ayoguḷova santatto, |
With a root of evil and a fruit of suffering. |
aghamūlā dukhapphalā. |
Sensual pleasures are like the fruit of a tree, |
Rukkhapphalūpamā kāmā, |
Painful like a piece of flesh; |
maṁsapesūpamā dukhā; |
Deceptive like a dream, |
Supinopamā vañcaniyā, |
Sensual pleasures are like a borrowed thing. |
kāmā yācitakūpamā. |
Sensual pleasures are like spears and stakes, |
Sattisūlūpamā kāmā, |
A disease, a tumor, evil, and a calamity; |
rogo gaṇḍo aghaṁ nighaṁ; |
Like a charcoal pit, |
Aṅgārakāsusadisā, |
Evil at the root, fear, and slaughter. |
aghamūlaṁ bhayaṁ vadho. |
Thus sensual pleasures have much suffering, |
Evaṁ bahudukkhā kāmā, |
They are said to be obstacles; |
akkhātā antarāyikā; |
Go away, I have no faith, |
Gacchatha na me bhavagate, |
In existence for myself. |
vissāso atthi attano. |
What can another do for me, |
Kiṁ mama paro karissati, |
When my own head is on fire? |
Attano sīsamhi ḍayhamānamhi; |
When old age and death are pursuing me, |
Anubandhe jarāmaraṇe, |
One must strive for their destruction.” |
Tassa ghātāya ghaṭitabbaṁ”. |
Having opened the door, I, |
Dvāraṁ apāpuritvānahaṁ, |
Saw my mother and father and Anīkaratta; |
Mātāpitaro anīkarattañca; |
Seated on the ground, |
Disvāna chamaṁ nisinne, |
Weeping, and I said this. |
Rodante idamavocaṁ. |
“Long is the saṁsāra of fools, |
“Dīgho bālānaṁ saṁsāro, |
As they weep again and again; |
Punappunañca rodataṁ; |
In a beginningless past, at the death of a father, |
Anamatagge pitu maraṇe, |
At the slaughter of a brother, and at one’s own slaughter. |
Bhātu vadhe attano ca vadhe. |
Remember the tears, the milk, the blood, |
Assu thaññaṁ rudhiraṁ, |
In the beginningless saṁsāra; |
Saṁsāraṁ anamataggato saratha; |
Of beings wandering on, |
Sattānaṁ saṁsarataṁ, |
Remember also the heap of bones. |
Sarāhi aṭṭhīnañca sannicayaṁ. |
Remember the four oceans, |
Sara caturodadhī, |
Compared to the tears, milk, and blood; |
Upanīte assuthaññarudhiramhi; |
Remember the heap of bones of one kalpa, |
Sara ekakappamaṭṭhīnaṁ, |
Equal to Vipula. |
Sañcayaṁ vipulena samaṁ. |
Of one wandering on in a beginningless saṁsāra, |
Anamatagge saṁsarato, |
Compared to the earth of Jambudīpa; |
Mahiṁ jambudīpamupanītaṁ; |
Pellets the size of jujube seeds, |
Kolaṭṭhimattaguḷikā, |
For the mothers of one’s mother are not enough. |
Mātā mātusveva nappahonti. |
Remember the grass, sticks, branches, and leaves, |
Tiṇakaṭṭhasākhāpalāsaṁ, |
Compared to the beginningless past; |
Upanītaṁ anamataggato sara; |
Sticks four fingers long, |
Caturaṅgulikā ghaṭikā, |
For the fathers of one’s father are not enough. |
Pitupitusveva nappahonti. |
Remember the one-eyed turtle in the eastern, |
Sara kāṇakacchapaṁ pubba- |
Ocean, and the yoke with a hole in the west; |
Samudde aparato ca yugachiddaṁ; |
The putting of its head through it, |
Siraṁ tassa ca paṭimukkaṁ, |
Is the simile for obtaining a human birth. |
Manussalābhamhi opammaṁ. |
Remember the form of a lump of foam, |
Sara rūpaṁ pheṇapiṇḍopa- |
Of this worthless body; |
Massa kāyakalino asārassa; |
See the aggregates as impermanent, |
Khandhe passa anicce, |
Remember the many troubles in hell. |
Sarāhi niraye bahuvighāte. |
Remember those who increase the charnel ground, |
Sara kaṭasiṁ vaḍḍhente, |
Again and again in those various births; |
Punappunaṁ tāsu tāsu jātīsu; |
Remember also the fears of crocodiles, |
Sara kumbhīlabhayāni ca, |
Remember the four truths. |
Sarāhi cattāri saccāni. |
When the deathless is present, |
Amatamhi vijjamāne, |
Why drink the five bitters? |
Kiṁ tava pañcakaṭukena pītena; |
All sensual pleasures, |
Sabbā hi kāmaratiyo, |
Are more bitter than the five bitters. |
Kaṭukatarā pañcakaṭukena. |
When the deathless is present, |
Amatamhi vijjamāne, |
Why do you have sensual pleasures, which are a fever? |
Kiṁ tava kāmehi ye pariḷāhā; |
All sensual pleasures, |
Sabbā hi kāmaratiyo, |
Are burning, seething, trembling, and tormenting. |
Jalitā kuthitā kampitā santāpitā. |
When there are no rivals, |
Asapattamhi samāne, |
Why do you have sensual pleasures, which have many rivals? |
Kiṁ tava kāmehi ye bahusapattā; |
Sensual pleasures are common property, |
Rājaggicoraudakappiyehi, |
With kings, fire, thieves, water, and enemies, and have many rivals. |
Sādhāraṇā kāmā bahusapattā. |
When there is liberation, |
Mokkhamhi vijjamāne, |
Why do you have sensual pleasures, in which there is slaughter and bondage? |
Kiṁ tava kāmehi yesu vadhabandho; |
In sensual pleasures, those who are not free, |
Kāmesu hi asakāmā, |
Experience the sufferings of slaughter and bondage. |
Vadhabandhadukhāni anubhonti. |
A blazing torch of grass, |
Ādīpitā tiṇukkā, |
Burns those who hold it, not those who let it go; |
Gaṇhantaṁ dahanti neva muñcantaṁ; |
Sensual pleasures are like a firebrand, |
Ukkopamā hi kāmā, |
They burn those who do not let them go. |
Dahanti ye te na muñcanti. |
Do not, for the sake of a little, |
Mā appakassa hetu, |
Sensual pleasure, lose a great happiness; |
Kāmasukhassa vipulaṁ jahī sukhaṁ; |
Do not, like a big-mouthed fish, swallow the hook, |
Mā puthulomova baḷisaṁ, |
And be afflicted afterwards. |
Gilitvā pacchā vihaññasi. |
Subdue your desire for sensual pleasures, |
Kāmaṁ kāmesu damassu, |
Like a dog tied with a chain; |
Tāva sunakhova saṅkhalābaddho; |
For what will sensual pleasures do to you, |
Kāhinti khu taṁ kāmā, |
Like dogs to a hungry person? |
Chātā sunakhaṁva caṇḍālā. |
And immeasurable suffering, |
Aparimitañca dukkhaṁ, |
And many mental griefs; |
Bahūni ca cittadomanassāni; |
You will experience, being yoked to sensual pleasures, |
Anubhohisi kāmayutto, |
Renounce impermanent sensual pleasures. |
Paṭinissaja addhuve kāme. |
When there is the ageless, |
Ajaramhi vijjamāne, |
Why do you have sensual pleasures, in which there is old age? |
Kiṁ tava kāmehi yesu jarā; |
Afflicted by death and sickness, |
Maraṇabyādhigahitā, |
Are all births everywhere. |
Sabbā sabbattha jātiyo. |
This is the ageless, this is the deathless, |
Idamajaramidamamaraṁ, |
This is the ageless, deathless, sorrowless state; |
Idamajarāmaraṁ padamasokaṁ; |
Without rivals, unconfined, |
Asapattamasambādhaṁ, |
Unfaltering, fearless, without torment. |
Akhalitamabhayaṁ nirupatāpaṁ. |
This has been attained by many, |
Adhigatamidaṁ bahūhi, |
This deathless is still attainable today; |
Amataṁ ajjāpi ca labhanīyamidaṁ; |
One who applies oneself with wisdom, |
Yo yoniso payuñjati, |
But it cannot be attained by not striving.” |
Na ca sakkā aghaṭamānena”. |
Thus Sumedhā speaks, |
Evaṁ bhaṇati sumedhā, |
Not finding delight in conditioned things; |
Saṅkhāragate ratiṁ alabhamānā; |
Admonishing Anikaratta, |
Anunentī anikarattaṁ, |
And Sumedhā threw her hair on the ground. |
Kese ca chamaṁ khipi sumedhā. |
Having risen, Anikaratta, |
Uṭṭhāya anikaratto, |
With an añjali, begged her father; |
Pañjaliko yācatassā pitaraṁ so; |
“Release Sumedhā, |
“Vissajjetha sumedhaṁ, |
To go forth, a seer of the truth of liberation.” |
Pabbajituṁ vimokkhasaccadassā”. |
Released by her mother and father, |
Vissajjitā mātāpitūhi, |
She went forth, afraid of sorrow and fear; |
pabbaji sokabhayabhītā; |
The six direct knowledges were realized, |
Cha abhiññā sacchikatā, |
By her who was training for the supreme fruit. |
aggaphalaṁ sikkhamānāya. |
It was amazing, it was wonderful, |
Acchariyamabbhutaṁ taṁ, |
That was the Nibbāna of the princess; |
Nibbānaṁ āsi rājakaññāya; |
The story of her past lives, |
Pubbenivāsacaritaṁ, |
As she declared it in her last time. |
Yathā byākari pacchime kāle. |
“In the time of the Blessed One Koṇāgamana, |
“Bhagavati koṇāgamane, |
In a newly established monastery; |
Saṅghārāmamhi navanivesamhi; |
Three female friends, |
Sakhiyo tisso janiyo, |
We gave a monastery. |
Vihāradānaṁ adāsimha. |
Ten times, a hundred times, |
Dasakkhattuṁ satakkhattuṁ, |
Ten hundred times, and a hundred hundred times; |
Dasasatakkhattuṁ satāni ca satakkhattuṁ; |
We were reborn among the devas, |
Devesu uppajjimha, |
What then to say of among humans? |
Ko pana vādo manussesu. |
We were of great psychic power among the devas, |
Devesu mahiddhikā ahumha, |
What then to say of in the human state? |
Mānusakamhi ko pana vādo; |
I was the chief queen of the seven treasures, |
Sattaratanassa mahesī, |
The jewel of a woman. |
Itthiratanaṁ ahaṁ āsiṁ. |
That was the cause, that was the origin, |
So hetu so pabhavo, |
That was the root, that was the faith in the teaching; |
Taṁ mūlaṁ sāva sāsane khantī; |
That was the first meeting, |
Taṁ paṭhamasamodhānaṁ, |
That was the Nibbāna for one who delights in the Dhamma. |
Taṁ dhammaratāya nibbānaṁ. |
Thus do those who have faith, |
Evaṁ karonti ye sadda- |
In the word of the one with unequalled wisdom; |
Hanti vacanaṁ anomapaññassa; |
They become disgusted with existence, |
Nibbindanti bhavagate, |
And being disgusted, they become dispassionate.” |
Nibbinditvā virajjantī”ti. |
Thus the senior nun Sumedhā recited these verses. |
Itthaṁ sudaṁ sumedhā therī gāthāyo abhāsitthāti. |
The Great Book is finished. |
Mahānipāto niṭṭhito. |
The Verses of the Senior Nuns are finished. |
Samattā therīgāthāyo |
Four hundred verses, |
Gāthāsatāni cattāri, |
And eighty and fourteen again; |
asīti puna cuddasa; |
One hundred and one senior nuns, |
Theriyekuttarasatā, |
All of them with their taints destroyed. |
sabbā tā āsavakkhayāti. |
The Pāli of the Verses of the Senior Nuns is finished. |
Therīgāthāpāḷi niṭṭhitā. |
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