Ambapālītherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 13.1

Verses of the Senior Nuns 13.1

Vīsatinipāta

The Book of the Twenties

Ambapālītherīgāthā

Ambapālī

“Kāḷakā bhamaravaṇṇasādisā,

My hair was as black as bees,

Vellitaggā mama muddhajā ahuṁ;

graced with curly tips;

Te jarāya sāṇavākasādisā,

now old, it has become like hemp bark—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Vāsitova surabhī karaṇḍako,

Crowned with flowers,

Pupphapūra mama uttamaṅgajo;

my head was as fragrant as a perfume box;

Taṁ jarāyatha salomagandhikaṁ,

now old, it smells like dog fur—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Kānanaṁva sahitaṁ suropitaṁ,

My hair was as thick as a well-planted forest,

Kocchasūcivicitaggasobhitaṁ;

it shone, parted with brush and pins;

Taṁ jarāya viralaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ,

now old, it’s patchy and sparse—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Kaṇhakhandhakasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitaṁ,

With plaits of black and ribbons of gold,

Sobhate suveṇīhilaṅkataṁ;

it was so pretty, graced with braids;

Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ siraṁ kataṁ,

now old, my head’s gone bald—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Cittakārasukatāva lekhikā,

My eyebrows used to look so nice,

Sobhare su bhamukā pure mama;

like crescents painted by an artist;

Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā,

now old, they droop with wrinkles—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Bhassarā surucirā yathā maṇī,

My eyes shone brilliant as gems,

Nettahesumabhinīlamāyatā;

wide and indigo;

Te jarāyabhihatā na sobhare,

ruined by age, they shine no more—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Saṇhatuṅgasadisī ca nāsikā,

My nose was like a perfect peak,

Sobhate su abhiyobbanaṁ pati;

lovely in my bloom of youth;

Sā jarāya upakūlitā viya,

now old, it’s shriveled like a pepper;

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Kaṅkaṇaṁva sukataṁ suniṭṭhitaṁ,

My ear-lobes were so pretty,

Sobhare su mama kaṇṇapāḷiyo;

like lovingly crafted bracelets;

Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā,

now old, they droop with wrinkles—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Pattalīmakulavaṇṇasādisā,

My teeth used to be so pretty,

Sobhare su dantā pure mama;

bright as a jasmine flower;

Te jarāya khaṇḍitā cāsitā,

now old, they’re broken and yellow—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Kānanamhi vanasaṇḍacārinī,

My singing was sweet as a cuckoo

Kokilāva madhuraṁ nikūjihaṁ;

wandering in the forest groves;

Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ,

now old, it’s patchy and croaking—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Saṇhakamburiva suppamajjitā,

My neck used to be so pretty,

Sobhate su gīvā pure mama;

like a polished shell of conch;

Sā jarāya bhaggā vināmitā,

now old, it’s bowed and bent—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Vaṭṭapalighasadisopamā ubho,

My arms used to be so pretty,

Sobhare su bāhā pure mama;

like rounded cross-bars;

Tā jarāya yatha pāṭalibbalitā,

with age, they wrinkle and sag as a patala tree—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Saṇhamuddikasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā,

My hands used to be so pretty,

Sobhare su hatthā pure mama;

graced with lovely golden rings;

Te jarāya yathā mūlamūlikā,

now old, they’re like red radishes—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Pīnavaṭṭasahituggatā ubho,

My breasts were both once so pretty,

Sobhare su thanakā pure mama;

swelling, round, close-set, and perky;

Thevikīva lambanti nodakā,

now they droop like water bags—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Kañcanassa phalakaṁva sammaṭṭhaṁ,

My body used to be so pretty,

Sobhate su kāyo pure mama;

like a polished slab of lustrous gold;

So valīhi sukhumāhi otato,

now it’s covered with delicate wrinkles—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Nāgabhogasadisopamā ubho,

Both my thighs used to be so pretty,

Sobhare su ūrū pure mama;

like an elephant’s trunk;

Te jarāya yathā veḷunāḷiyo,

now old, they’re like bamboo—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Saṇhanūpurasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā,

My calves used to be so pretty,

Sobhare su jaṅghā pure mama;

graced with cute golden anklets;

Tā jarāya tiladaṇḍakāriva,

now old, they’re like sesame sticks—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Tūlapuṇṇasadisopamā ubho,

Both my feet used to be so pretty,

Sobhare su pādā pure mama;

plump as if with cotton-wool;

Te jarāya phuṭitā valīmatā,

now old, they’re cracked and wrinkly—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Ediso ahu ayaṁ samussayo,

This bag of bones once was such,

Jajjaro bahudukkhānamālayo;

but now it’s withered, home to so much pain;

Sopalepapatito jarāgharo,

like a house in decay with plaster crumbling—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā”.

the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

… Ambapālī therī ….