Subhākammāradhītutherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 13.5

Verses of the Senior Nuns 13.5

Vīsatinipāta

The Book of the Twenties

Subhākammāradhītutherīgāthā

Subhā, the Smith’s Daughter

“Daharāhaṁ suddhavasanā,

“I was so young, my clothes so fresh,

yaṁ pure dhammamassuṇiṁ;

at that time I heard the teaching.

Tassā me appamattāya,

Being diligent,

saccābhisamayo ahu.

I comprehended the truth;

Tatohaṁ sabbakāmesu,

and then I became profoundly dispassionate

bhusaṁ aratimajjhagaṁ;

toward all sensual pleasures.

Sakkāyasmiṁ bhayaṁ disvā,

Seeing fear in substantial reality,

nekkhammameva pīhaye.

I longed for renunciation.

Hitvānahaṁ ñātigaṇaṁ,

Giving up my family circle,

dāsakammakarāni ca;

bonded servants and workers,

Gāmakhettāni phītāni,

and my flourishing village fields,

ramaṇīye pamodite.

so delightful and pleasant,

Pahāyahaṁ pabbajitā,

I went forth;

sāpateyyamanappakaṁ;

all that is no small wealth.

Evaṁ saddhāya nikkhamma,

Now that I’ve renounced in faith like this,

saddhamme suppavedite.

in the true teaching so well proclaimed,

Netaṁ assa patirūpaṁ,

since I desire to have nothing,

Ākiñcaññañhi patthaye;

it would not be appropriate

Yo jātarūpaṁ rajataṁ,

to take back gold and currency,

Chaḍḍetvā punarāgame.

having already got rid of them.

Rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ vā,

Currency or gold

na bodhāya na santiyā;

doesn’t lead to peace and awakening.

Netaṁ samaṇasāruppaṁ,

It doesn’t befit an ascetic;

na etaṁ ariyaddhanaṁ.

it’s not the wealth of the noble ones;

Lobhanaṁ madanañcetaṁ,

it’s greed and vanity,

mohanaṁ rajavaḍḍhanaṁ;

confusion and growing decadence,

Sāsaṅkaṁ bahuāyāsaṁ,

dubious and troublesome—

natthi cettha dhuvaṁ ṭhiti.

there is nothing lasting there.

Ettha rattā pamattā ca,

Depraved and heedless,

saṅkiliṭṭhamanā narā;

unenlightened folk, their hearts corrupt,

Aññamaññena byāruddhā,

fight each other,

puthu kubbanti medhagaṁ.

creating conflict.

Vadho bandho parikleso,

Killing, caging, misery,

jāni sokapariddavo;

loss, grief, and lamentation;

Kāmesu adhipannānaṁ,

those sunk in sensual pleasures

dissate byasanaṁ bahuṁ.

see many disastrous things.

Taṁ maṁ ñātī amittāva,

My family, why do you urge me on

kiṁ vo kāmesu yuñjatha;

to pleasures, as if you were my enemies?

Jānātha maṁ pabbajitaṁ,

You know I’ve gone forth,

kāmesu bhayadassiniṁ.

seeing fear in sensual pleasures.

Na hiraññasuvaṇṇena,

It’s not due to gold, coined or uncoined,

parikkhīyanti āsavā;

that defilements come to an end.

Amittā vadhakā kāmā,

Sensual pleasures are enemies and killers,

sapattā sallabandhanā.

hostile forces that bind you to thorns.

Taṁ maṁ ñātī amittāva,

My family, why do you urge me on

kiṁ vo kāmesu yuñjatha;

to pleasures, as if you were my enemies?

Jānātha maṁ pabbajitaṁ,

You know I’ve gone forth,

muṇḍaṁ saṅghāṭipārutaṁ.

shaven, wrapped in my outer robe.

Uttiṭṭhapiṇḍo uñcho ca,

Leftovers as gleanings,

paṁsukūlañca cīvaraṁ;

and cast-off rags as robes—

Etaṁ kho mama sāruppaṁ,

that’s what’s fitting for me,

anagārūpanissayo.

the essentials of the homeless life.

Vantā mahesīhi kāmā,

Great seers expel sensual pleasures,

ye dibbā ye ca mānusā;

both human and heavenly.

Khemaṭṭhāne vimuttā te,

Safe in their sanctuary, they are freed,

pattā te acalaṁ sukhaṁ.

having found unshakable happiness.

Māhaṁ kāmehi saṅgacchiṁ,

May I not encounter sensual pleasures,

yesu tāṇaṁ na vijjati;

for no shelter is found in them.

Amittā vadhakā kāmā,

Sensual pleasures are enemies and killers,

aggikkhandhūpamā dukhā.

as painful as a mass of fire.

Paripantho esa bhayo,

This is a roadblock, a threat,

savighāto sakaṇṭako;

full of distress and thorns;

Gedho suvisamo ceso,

it is a blind spot, uneven,

mahanto mohanāmukho.

a great gateway to confusion.

Upasaggo bhīmarūpo,

Hazardous and terrifying,

kāmā sappasirūpamā;

sensual pleasures are like a cobra’s head,

Ye bālā abhinandanti,

where fools delight,

andhabhūtā puthujjanā.

the blind ordinary folk.

Kāmapaṅkena sattā hi,

Stuck in the swamp of sensuality,

bahū loke aviddasū;

there are so many ignorant in the world.

Pariyantaṁ na jānanti,

They know nothing of the end

jātiyā maraṇassa ca.

of rebirth and death.

Duggatigamanaṁ maggaṁ,

Because of sensual pleasures,

manussā kāmahetukaṁ;

people jump right on to the path
that goes to a bad place.

Bahuṁ ve paṭipajjanti,

So many walk the path

attano rogamāvahaṁ.

that brings disease onto themselves.

Evaṁ amittajananā,

That’s how sensual pleasures create enemies;

tāpanā saṅkilesikā;

they are so tormenting, so corrupting,

Lokāmisā bandhanīyā,

trapping beings with worldly pleasures of the flesh,

kāmā maraṇabandhanā.

they are nothing less than the bonds of death.

Ummādanā ullapanā,

Maddening, enticing,

kāmā cittappamaddino;

sensual pleasures derange the mind.

Sattānaṁ saṅkilesāya,

For the corruption of beings,

khippaṁ mārena oḍḍitaṁ.

swiftly ensnared by Māra.

Anantādīnavā kāmā,

Sensual pleasures are infinitely dangerous,

bahudukkhā mahāvisā;

they’re full of suffering, a terrible poison;

Appassādā raṇakarā,

offering little gratification, they’re makers of strife,

sukkapakkhavisosanā.

withering bright qualities away.

Sāhaṁ etādisaṁ katvā,

Since I’ve created so much ruination

byasanaṁ kāmahetukaṁ;

because of sensual pleasures,

Na taṁ paccāgamissāmi,

I will not relapse to them again,

nibbānābhiratā sadā.

but will always delight in extinguishment.

Raṇaṁ karitvā kāmānaṁ,

Having once made strife
for the sake of sensual pleasures,

sītibhāvābhikaṅkhinī;

now I am longing for that cool state.

Appamattā vihassāmi,

I shall meditate diligently

sabbasaṁyojanakkhaye.

for the ending of all fetters.

Asokaṁ virajaṁ khemaṁ,

Sorrowless, stainless, secure—

ariyaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ ujuṁ;

I follow that path,

Taṁ maggaṁ anugacchāmi,

the straight noble eightfold way

yena tiṇṇā mahesino”.

by which the seers have crossed over.”

“Imaṁ passatha dhammaṭṭhaṁ,

“Look at this: Subhā the smith’s daughter,

subhaṁ kammāradhītaraṁ;

standing firm in the teaching.

Anejaṁ upasampajja,

She has entered the imperturbable state,

rukkhamūlamhi jhāyati.

meditating at the root of a tree.

Ajjaṭṭhamī pabbajitā,

It’s just eight days since she went forth,

saddhā saddhammasobhanā;

the faithful one, grace of the true teaching.

Vinītuppalavaṇṇāya,

Guided by Uppalavaṇṇā,

tevijjā maccuhāyinī.

she is master of the three knowledges,
conqueror of death.

Sāyaṁ bhujissā anaṇā,

This one is freed from slavery and debt,

bhikkhunī bhāvitindriyā;

a nun with faculties developed.

Sabbayogavisaṁyuttā,

Unyoked from all yokes,

katakiccā anāsavā”.

she has completed the task
and is free of defilements.”

Taṁ sakko devasaṅghena,

Thus did Sakka, lord of all creatures,

upasaṅkamma iddhiyā;

along with a host of gods,

Namassati bhūtapati,

having come by their psychic powers,

subhaṁ kammāradhītaranti.

honor Subhā, the smith’s daughter.

… Subhā kammāradhītā therī ….

Vīsatinipāto niṭṭhito.