Kisāgotamītherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 10.1

Verses of the Senior Nuns 10.1

Ekādasakanipāta

The Book of the Elevens

Kisāgotamītherīgāthā

Kisāgotamī

“Kalyāṇamittatā muninā,

“Pointing out how the world works,

lokaṁ ādissa vaṇṇitā;

the sages have praised good friendship.

Kalyāṇamitte bhajamāno,

Associating with good friends,

api bālo paṇḍito assa.

even a fool becomes astute.

Bhajitabbā sappurisā,

Associate with true persons,

Paññā tathā vaḍḍhati bhajantānaṁ;

for that is how wisdom grows.

Bhajamāno sappurise,

Should you associate with true persons,

Sabbehipi dukkhehi pamucceyya.

you would be freed from all suffering.

Dukkhañca vijāneyya,

And you would understand suffering,

Dukkhassa ca samudayaṁ nirodhaṁ;

its origin and cessation,

Aṭṭhaṅgikañca maggaṁ,

the eightfold path,

Cattāripi ariyasaccāni”.

and so the four noble truths.”

“Dukkho itthibhāvo,

“‘A woman’s life is painful,’

Akkhāto purisadammasārathinā;

explained the Buddha,
guide for those fit to train,

Sapattikampi hi dukkhaṁ,

‘and for a co-wife it’s especially so.

Appekaccā sakiṁ vijātāyo.

After giving birth just once,

Galake api kantanti,

some women even cut their own throat,

Sukhumāliniyo visāni khādanti;

while delicate ladies take poison.

Janamārakamajjhagatā,

Being guilty of killing a person,

Ubhopi byasanāni anubhonti”.

they both undergo ruin.’”

“Upavijaññā gacchantī,

“I was on the road, near to giving birth,

addasāhaṁ patiṁ mataṁ;

when I saw my husband dead.

Panthamhi vijāyitvāna,

I gave birth there on the road

appattāva sakaṁ gharaṁ.

before I’d reached my own house.

Dve puttā kālakatā,

My two children have died,

Patī ca panthe mato kapaṇikāya;

and on the road my husband lies dead—
oh woe is me!

Mātā pitā ca bhātā,

Mother, father, and brother

Ḍayhanti ca ekacitakāyaṁ”.

all burning up on the same pyre.”

“Khīṇakulīne kapaṇe,

“Oh woe is you whose family is lost,

Anubhūtaṁ te dukhaṁ aparimāṇaṁ;

the suffering you have undergone has no measure;

Assū ca te pavattaṁ,

you have been shedding tears

Bahūni ca jātisahassāni.

for many thousands of lives.”

Vasitā susānamajjhe,

“While staying in the charnel ground,

Athopi khāditāni puttamaṁsāni;

I saw my son’s flesh being eaten.

Hatakulikā sabbagarahitā,

With my family destroyed, condemned by all,

Matapatikā amatamadhigacchiṁ.

and my husband dead, I realized freedom from death.

Bhāvito me maggo,

I’ve developed the noble eightfold path

Ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko amatagāmī;

leading to freedom from death.

Nibbānaṁ sacchikataṁ,

I’ve realized extinguishment,

Dhammādāsaṁ avekkhiṁhaṁ.

as seen in the mirror of the Dhamma.

Ahamamhi kantasallā,

I’ve plucked out the dart,

Ohitabhārā katañhi karaṇīyaṁ;

laid down the burden,
and done what needed to be done.”

Kisā gotamī therī,

The senior nun Kisāgotamī,

Vimuttacittā imaṁ bhaṇī”ti.

her mind released, said this.

… Kisā gotamī therī ….

Ekādasakanipāto niṭṭhito.