Puṇṇātherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 12.1

Verses of the Senior Nuns 12.1

Soḷasakanipāta

The Book of the Sixteens

Puṇṇātherīgāthā

Puṇṇikā

“Udahārī ahaṁ sīte,

“I used to be a water-carrier. Even when it was cold,

sadā udakamotariṁ;

I would always plunge into the water,

Ayyānaṁ daṇḍabhayabhītā,

afraid of my masters’ beatings,

vācādosabhayaṭṭitā.

harassed by fear of abuse and anger.

Kassa brāhmaṇa tvaṁ bhīto,

Brahmin, what are you afraid of,

sadā udakamotari;

that you always plunge into the water,

Vedhamānehi gattehi,

your limbs trembling

sītaṁ vedayase bhusaṁ”.

in the freezing cold?”

“Jānantī vata maṁ bhoti,

“Oh, but you already know,

puṇṇike paripucchasi;

Madam Puṇṇikā, when you ask me:

Karontaṁ kusalaṁ kammaṁ,

I am doing good deeds,

rundhantaṁ katapāpakaṁ.

to ward off the wickedness I have done.

Yo ca vuḍḍho daharo vā,

Whosoever young or old

pāpakammaṁ pakubbati;

performs a wicked deed,

Dakābhisecanā sopi,

by ablution in water they are

pāpakammā pamuccati”.

released from their wicked deed.”

“Ko nu te idamakkhāsi,

“Who on earth told you this,

ajānantassa ajānako;

one ignoramus to another:

Dakābhisecanā nāma,

‘Actually, by ablution in water one is

pāpakammā pamuccati.

released from a wicked deed.’

Saggaṁ nūna gamissanti,

Would not they all go to heaven, then:

sabbe maṇḍūkakacchapā;

all the frogs and the turtles,

Nāgā ca susumārā ca,

dragons, dolphins,

ye caññe udake carā.

and other water-dwellers too?

Orabbhikā sūkarikā,

Butchers of sheep and pigs,

macchikā migabandhakā;

fishermen, animal trappers,

Corā ca vajjhaghātā ca,

bandits, executioners,

ye caññe pāpakammino;

and others of evil deeds:

Dakābhisecanā tepi,

by ablution in water they too would be

pāpakammā pamuccare.

released from their wicked deeds.

Sace imā nadiyo te,

If these rivers had carried away

pāpaṁ pubbe kataṁ vahuṁ;

your bad deeds in the past,

Puññampimā vaheyyuṁ te,

they would also carry away your good deeds,

tena tvaṁ paribāhiro.

from which you’d be prevented.

Yassa brāhmaṇa tvaṁ bhīto,

Brahmin, the thing that you are afraid of,

sadā udakamotari;

when you always plunge into the water,

Tameva brahme mā kāsi,

do not do that very thing,

mā te sītaṁ chaviṁ hane”.

don’t let the cold harm your skin.”

“Kummaggapaṭipannaṁ maṁ,

“I have been on the wrong path,

ariyamaggaṁ samānayi;

and you’ve guided me to the noble path.

Dakābhisecanā bhoti,

Madam, I give to you

imaṁ sāṭaṁ dadāmi te”.

this ablution cloth.”

“Tuyheva sāṭako hotu,

“Keep the cloth for yourself,

nāhamicchāmi sāṭakaṁ;

I do not want it.

Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa,

If you fear suffering,

sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ.

if you don’t like suffering,

Mākāsi pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,

then don’t do bad deeds

āvi vā yadi vā raho;

either openly or in secret.

Sace ca pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,

If you should do a bad deed,

karissasi karosi vā.

or you’re doing one now,

Na te dukkhā pamutyatthi,

you won’t be freed from suffering,

upeccāpi palāyato;

though you fly away and flee.

Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa,

If you fear suffering,

sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ.

if you don’t like suffering,

Upehi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ,

go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,

dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ;

to his teaching and to the Saṅgha.

Samādiyāhi sīlāni,

Undertake the precepts,

taṁ te atthāya hehiti”.

that will be good for you.”

“Upemi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ,

“I go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,

dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ;

to his teaching and to the Saṅgha.

Samādiyāmi sīlāni,

I undertake the precepts,

taṁ me atthāya hehiti.

that will be good for me.

Brahmabandhu pure āsiṁ,

I used to be brahmin only by kin,

ajjamhi saccabrāhmaṇo;

today I truly am a brahmin!

Tevijjo vedasampanno,

Master of the three knowledges,
accomplished in wisdom,

sottiyo camhi nhātako”ti.

I’m a scholar, a bathed initiate.”

… Puṇṇā therī ….

Soḷasakanipāto niṭṭhito.