Sundarītherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 13.4

Verses of the Senior Nuns 13.4

Vīsatinipāta

The Book of the Twenties

Sundarītherīgāthā

Sundarī

“Petāni bhoti puttāni,

“Before, worthy lady, when feeding

khādamānā tuvaṁ pure;

your departed children,

Tuvaṁ divā ca ratto ca,

you’d be racked with despair

atīva paritappasi.

all day and all night.

Sājja sabbāni khāditvā,

Today, brahmin lady, you have fed

sataputtāni brāhmaṇī;

all seven children.

Vāseṭṭhi kena vaṇṇena,

Vāseṭṭhī, how do you explain why

na bāḷhaṁ paritappasi”.

you’re not so filled with despair?”

“Bahūni puttasatāni,

“Many hundreds of children,

ñātisaṅghasatāni ca;

hundreds of family circles,

Khāditāni atītaṁse,

both mine and yours, brahmin,

mama tuyhañca brāhmaṇa.

have been fed in the past.

Sāhaṁ nissaraṇaṁ ñatvā,

Having known the escape

jātiyā maraṇassa ca;

from rebirth and death

Na socāmi na rodāmi,

I neither grieve nor lament,

na cāpi paritappayiṁ”.

nor do I despair.”

“Abbhutaṁ vata vāseṭṭhi,

“Wow, Vaseṭṭhī, the words you speak

vācaṁ bhāsasi edisiṁ;

really are amazing!

Kassa tvaṁ dhammamaññāya,

Whose teaching did you understand

giraṁ bhāsasi edisiṁ”.

that you say these things?”

“Esa brāhmaṇa sambuddho,

“Brahmin, the Awakened One

nagaraṁ mithilaṁ pati;

back at the city of Mithilā,

Sabbadukkhappahānāya,

teaches the Dhamma so that living creatures

dhammaṁ desesi pāṇinaṁ.

may abandon all suffering.

Tassa brahme arahato,

After hearing the perfected one’s teaching,

dhammaṁ sutvā nirūpadhiṁ;

brahmin, which is free of all attachments,

Tattha viññātasaddhammā,

having understood the true teaching there,

puttasokaṁ byapānudiṁ”.

I’ve cast aside grief for children.”

“So ahampi gamissāmi,

“I too shall go

nagaraṁ mithilaṁ pati;

to the city of Mithilā.

Appeva maṁ so bhagavā,

Hopefully the Buddha may release me

sabbadukkhā pamocaye”.

from all suffering.”

Addasa brāhmaṇo buddhaṁ,

The brahmin saw the Buddha,

vippamuttaṁ nirūpadhiṁ;

liberated, free of attachments.

Svassa dhammamadesesi,

He taught him the Dhamma,

muni dukkhassa pāragū.

the sage gone beyond suffering:

Dukkhaṁ dukkhasamuppādaṁ,

suffering, suffering’s origin,

dukkhassa ca atikkamaṁ;

suffering’s transcendence,

Ariyaṁ caṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,

and the noble eightfold path

dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

that leads to the stilling of suffering.

Tattha viññātasaddhammo,

Having understood the true teaching there,

pabbajjaṁ samarocayi;

he chose to go forth.

Sujāto tīhi rattīhi,

Three days later

tisso vijjā aphassayi.

Sujāta realized the three knowledges.

“Ehi sārathi gacchāhi,

“Please, charioteer, go;

rathaṁ niyyādayāhimaṁ;

take back this carriage.

Ārogyaṁ brāhmaṇiṁ vajja,

Bidding my brahmin lady good health, say:

‘pabbaji dāni brāhmaṇo;

‘The brahmin has now gone forth.

Sujāto tīhi rattīhi,

After three days,

tisso vijjā aphassayi’”.

Sujāta realized the three knowledges.’”

Tato ca rathamādāya,

Then taking the carriage,

sahassañcāpi sārathi;

along with a thousand coins, the charioteer

Ārogyaṁ brāhmaṇiṁvoca,

bade the brahmin lady good health, and said:

“pabbaji dāni brāhmaṇo;

“The brahmin has now gone forth.

Sujāto tīhi rattīhi,

After three days,

tisso vijjā aphassayi”.

Sujāta realized the three knowledges.”

“Etañcāhaṁ assarathaṁ,

Hearing that the brahmin had the three knowledges,
the lady replied:

sahassañcāpi sārathi;

“I present to you this horse and carriage,

Tevijjaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sutvā,

O charioteer, along with 1000 coins,

puṇṇapattaṁ dadāmi te”.

and a full bowl as a gift.”

“Tuyheva hotvassaratho,

“Keep the horse and carriage, lady,

sahassañcāpi brāhmaṇi;

along with the thousand coins.

Ahampi pabbajissāmi,

I too shall go forth in his presence,

varapaññassa santike”.

the one of such outstanding wisdom.”

“Hatthī gavassaṁ maṇikuṇḍalañca,

“Elephants, cattle, jeweled earrings,

Phītañcimaṁ gahavibhavaṁ pahāya;

such opulent domestic worth:

Pitā pabbajito tuyhaṁ,

having given it up, your father went forth,

Bhuñja bhogāni sundarī;

enjoy these riches Sundarī,

Tuvaṁ dāyādikā kule”.

you are the family heir.”

“Hatthī gavassaṁ maṇikuṇḍalañca,

“Elephants, cattle, jeweled earrings,

Rammaṁ cimaṁ gahavibhavaṁ pahāya;

such delightful domestic worth:

Pitā pabbajito mayhaṁ,

having given it up, my father went forth,

Puttasokena aṭṭito;

racked by grief for his son.

Ahampi pabbajissāmi,

I too shall go forth,

Bhātusokena aṭṭitā”.

racked by grief for my brother.”

“So te ijjhatu saṅkappo,

“Sundarī, may the wish you desire

yaṁ tvaṁ patthesi sundarī;

come true.

Uttiṭṭhapiṇḍo uñcho ca,

Leftovers as gleanings,

paṁsukūlañca cīvaraṁ;

and cast-off rags as robes—

Etāni abhisambhontī,

make do with these,

paraloke anāsavā”.

free of defilements regarding the next life.”

“Sikkhamānāya me ayye,

“Ma’am, while I am still a trainee nun,

dibbacakkhu visodhitaṁ;

my clairvoyance is clarified;

Pubbenivāsaṁ jānāmi,

I know my past lives,

yattha me vusitaṁ pure.

the places I used to live.

Tuvaṁ nissāya kalyāṇi,

Relying on a fine lady like you,

theri saṅghassa sobhane;

a senior nun who graces the Saṅgha,

Tisso vijjā anuppattā,

I’ve attained the three knowledges,

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

Anujānāhi me ayye,

Give me permission ma’am,

icche sāvatthi gantave;

I wish to go to Sāvatthī,

Sīhanādaṁ nadissāmi,

where I shall roar my lion’s roar

buddhaseṭṭhassa santike”.

before the best of Buddhas.”

“Passa sundari satthāraṁ,

“Sundarī, see the Teacher!

hemavaṇṇaṁ harittacaṁ;

Snow gold in tint,
with sun-golden skin;

Adantānaṁ dametāraṁ,

tamer of the untamed,

sambuddhamakutobhayaṁ”.

the Awakened One who fears nothing
from any quarter.”

“Passa sundarimāyantiṁ,

“See Sundarī coming,

vippamuttaṁ nirūpadhiṁ;

liberated, free of attachments.

Vītarāgaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,

desireless, detached,

katakiccamanāsavaṁ.

her task completed, without defilements.”

Bārāṇasito nikkhamma,

“Having set forth from Varanasi

tava santikamāgatā;

and come to your presence, great hero,

Sāvikā te mahāvīra,

your disciple Sundarī

pāde vandati sundarī.

bows at your feet.

Tuvaṁ buddho tuvaṁ satthā,

You are the Buddha, you are the Teacher,

tuyhaṁ dhītāmhi brāhmaṇa;

I am your bosom daughter, brahmin,

Orasā mukhato jātā,

born of your mouth.

katakiccā anāsavā”.

I’ve completed the task
and am free of defilements.”

“Tassā te svāgataṁ bhadde,

“Then welcome, good lady,

tato te adurāgataṁ;

you’re by no means unwelcome.

Evañhi dantā āyanti,

For this is how the tamed come

satthu pādāni vandikā;

bowing at the Teacher’s feet;

Vītarāgā visaṁyuttā,

desireless, detached,

katakiccā anāsavā”.

the task completed, without defilements.”

… Sundarī therī ….