Khuddaka Nikaya
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Therigatha

Verses of the Elder Nuns

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Therigatha VI

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

VI.1 -- Pañcasata Patacara

"You don't know
the path
of his coming or going,
that being who has come
from where? --
the one you lament as 'my son.'
But when you know
the path
of his coming or going,
you don't grieve after him,
for that is the nature
of beings.

Unasked,
he came from there.
Without permission,
he went from here --
coming from where?
having stayed a few days.
And coming one way from here,
he goes yet another
from there.
Dying in the human form,
he will go wandering on.
As he came, so he has gone --
so what is there
to lament?"

Pulling out
-- completely out --
the arrow so hard to see,
embedded in my heart,
he expelled from me
-- overcome with grief --
the grief
over my son.

Today -- with arrow removed,
without hunger, entirely
Unbound --
to the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha I go,
for refuge to
the Sage.

VI.2 -- Vasitthi the Madwoman

Overwhelmed with grief for my son --
naked, demented,
my hair dishevelled
my mind deranged --
I went about here & there,
living along the side of the road,
in cemeteries & heaps of trash,
for three full years,
afflicted with hunger & thirst.

Then I saw
the One Well-gone,
gone to the city of Mithila:
tamer of those untamed,
Self-Awakened,
with nothing to fear
from anything, anywhere.

Regaining my mind,
paying him homage,
I sat myself down.
He, Gotama, from sympathy
taught me the Dhamma.
Hearing his Dhamma,
I went forth into homelessness.
Applying myself to the Teacher's words,
I realized the state of auspicious bliss.

All griefs have been cut off,
abandoned,
brought to this end,
for I've comprehended
the grounds from which griefs
come into play.

VI.5 -- Anopama, the Millionaire's Daughter

Born in a high-ranking family
with much property, great wealth,
consummate in complexion & figure,
I was the daughter of Majjha, the treasurer.
Sons of kings sought for me,
sons of rich merchants
longed for me.
One of them sent my father a messenger,
saying, "Give me Anopama.
I will give in return
eight times her weight
in jewels & gold."
But I, having seen
the One Self-awakened,
unsurpassed, excelling the world,
paid homage to his feet,
sat down to one side.
He, Gotama, from sympathy,
taught me the Dhamma.
And as I sat in that very seat,
I attained the third fruit
[of non-return.]
Then I cut off my hair,
and went forth into homelessness.
Today is the seventh day
since I made craving
wither away.