Uppalavaṇṇātherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 11.1

Verses of the Senior Nuns 11.1

Dvādasakanipāta

The Book of the Twelves

Uppalavaṇṇātherīgāthā

Uppalavaṇṇā

“Ubho mātā ca dhītā ca,

“The two of us were co-wives,

mayaṁ āsuṁ sapattiyo;

though we were mother and daughter.

Tassā me ahu saṁvego,

I was struck with a sense of urgency,

abbhuto lomahaṁsano.

so astonishing and hair-raising!

Dhiratthu kāmā asucī,

Curse those filthy sensual pleasures,

duggandhā bahukaṇṭakā;

so nasty and thorny,

Yattha mātā ca dhītā ca,

where we, both mother and daughter,

sabhariyā mayaṁ ahuṁ.

had to be co-wives together.

Kāmesvādīnavaṁ disvā,

Seeing the danger in sensual pleasures,

nekkhammaṁ daṭṭhu khemato;

seeing renunciation as sanctuary,

Sā pabbajjiṁ rājagahe,

I went forth in Rājagaha

agārasmānagāriyaṁ.

from the lay life to homelessness.

Pubbenivāsaṁ jānāmi,

I know my past lives;

dibbacakkhu visodhitaṁ;

my clairvoyance is clarified;

Cetopariccañāṇañca,

I encompass the minds of others;

sotadhātu visodhitā.

my clairaudience is purified;

Iddhīpi me sacchikatā,

I’ve realized the psychic powers,

patto me āsavakkhayo;

and attained the ending of defilements.

Chaḷabhiññā sacchikatā,

I’ve realized the six kinds of direct knowledge,

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

Iddhiyā abhinimmitvā,

I created a four-horsed chariot

caturassaṁ rathaṁ ahaṁ;

using my psychic powers.

Buddhassa pāde vanditvā,

Then I bowed at the feet of the Buddha,

lokanāthassa tādino”.

the glorious protector of the world.”

“Supupphitaggaṁ upagamma pādapaṁ,

“You’ve come to this sal tree all crowned with flowers,

Ekā tuvaṁ tiṭṭhasi sālamūle;

and stand at its root all alone.

Na cāpi te dutiyo atthi koci,

But you have no male companion with you—

Bāle na tvaṁ bhāyasi dhuttakānaṁ”.

silly girl, aren’t you afraid of rascals?”

“Sataṁ sahassānipi dhuttakānaṁ,

“Even if 100,000 rascals like this

Samāgatā edisakā bhaveyyuṁ;

were to gang up,

Lomaṁ na iñje napi sampavedhe,

I’d stir not a hair nor tremble.

Kiṁ me tuvaṁ māra karissaseko.

What could you do to me all alone, Māra?

Esā antaradhāyāmi,

I’ll vanish,

kucchiṁ vā pavisāmi te;

or I’ll enter your belly;

Bhamukantare tiṭṭhāmi,

I could stand between your eyebrows

tiṭṭhantiṁ maṁ na dakkhasi.

and you still wouldn’t see me.

Cittamhi vasībhūtāhaṁ,

I’m the master of my own mind,

iddhipādā subhāvitā;

I’ve developed the bases of psychic power well.

Chaḷabhiññā sacchikatā,

I’ve realized the six kinds of direct knowledge,

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

Sattisūlūpamā kāmā,

Sensual pleasures are like swords and spears;

khandhāsaṁ adhikuṭṭanā;

the aggregates are their chopping block.

Yaṁ tvaṁ ‘kāmaratiṁ’ brūsi,

What you call erotic delight

‘āratī’ dāni sā mama.

is now no delight for me.

Sabbattha vihatā nandī,

Relishing is banished in every respect,

Tamokhandho padālito;

and the mass of darkness is shattered.

Evaṁ jānāhi pāpima,

So know this, Wicked One:

Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.

you’re beaten, terminator!”

… Uppalavaṇṇā therī ….

Dvādasakanipāto niṭṭhito.