Isidāsītherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 15.1

Verses of the Senior Nuns 15.1

Cattālīsanipāta

The Book of the Forties

Isidāsītherīgāthā

Isidāsī

Nagaramhi kusumanāme,

In Pāṭaliputta, the cream of the world,

Pāṭaliputtamhi pathaviyā maṇḍe;

the city named for a flower,

Sakyakulakulīnāyo,

there were two nuns from the Sakyan clan,

Dve bhikkhuniyo hi guṇavatiyo.

both of them ladies of quality.

Isidāsī tattha ekā,

One was named Isidāsī, the second Bodhī.

Dutiyā bodhīti sīlasampannā ca;

They both were accomplished in ethics,

Jhānajjhāyanaratāyo,

lovers of meditation and chanting,

Bahussutāyo dhutakilesāyo.

learned, crushing corruptions.

Tā piṇḍāya caritvā,

They wandered for alms and had their meal.

Bhattatthaṁ kariya dhotapattāyo;

When they had washed their bowls,

Rahitamhi sukhanisinnā,

they sat happily in a private place

Imā girā abbhudīresuṁ.

and started a conversation.

“Pāsādikāsi ayye,

“You’re so lovely, Mistress Isidāsī,

Isidāsi vayopi te aparihīno;

your youth has not yet faded.

Kiṁ disvāna byālikaṁ,

What problem did you see that made you

Athāsi nekkhammamanuyuttā”.

dedicate your life to renunciation?”

Evamanuyuñjiyamānā sā,

Being pressed like this in private,

Rahite dhammadesanākusalā;

Isidāsī, skilled in teaching Dhamma,

Isidāsī vacanamabravi,

voiced the following words.

“Suṇa bodhi yathāmhi pabbajitā”.

“Bodhī, hear how I went forth.

“Ujjeniyā puravare,

In the fine town of Ujjenī,

Mayhaṁ pitā sīlasaṁvuto seṭṭhi;

my father was a financier, a good and moral man.

Tassamhi ekadhītā,

I was his only daughter,

Piyā manāpā ca dayitā ca.

dear, beloved, and cherished.

Atha me sāketato varakā,

Then some suitors came for me

Āgacchumuttamakulīnā;

from the top family of Sāketa.

Seṭṭhī pahūtaratano,

They were sent by a financier abounding in wealth,

Tassa mamaṁ suṇhamadāsi tāto.

to whom my father then gave me as daughter-in-law.

Sassuyā sasurassa ca,

Come morning and come evening,

Sāyaṁ pātaṁ paṇāmamupagamma;

I bowed with my head to the feet

Sirasā karomi pāde,

of my father and mother-in-law,

Vandāmi yathāmhi anusiṭṭhā.

just as I had been told.

Yā mayhaṁ sāmikassa,

Whenever I saw my husband’s sisters,

Bhaginiyo bhātuno parijano vā;

his brothers, his servants,

Tamekavarakampi disvā,

or even he, my one and only,

Ubbiggā āsanaṁ demi.

I nervously gave them a seat.

Annena ca pānena ca,

Whatever they wanted—food and drink,

Khajjena ca yañca tattha sannihitaṁ;

treats, or whatever was in the cupboard—

Chādemi upanayāmi ca,

I brought out and offered to them,

Demi ca yaṁ yassa patirūpaṁ.

ensuring each got what was fitting.

Kālena upaṭṭhahitvā,

Having risen bright and early,

Gharaṁ samupagamāmi ummāre;

I approached the main house,

Dhovantī hatthapāde,

washed my hands and feet,

Pañjalikā sāmikamupemi.

and went to my husband with cupped palms.

Kocchaṁ pasādaṁ añjaniñca,

Taking a comb, adornments,

Ādāsakañca gaṇhitvā;

eyeshadow, and a mirror,

Parikammakārikā viya,

I myself did the makeup for my husband,

Sayameva patiṁ vibhūsemi.

as if I were his beautician.

Sayameva odanaṁ sādhayāmi,

I myself cooked the rice;

Sayameva bhājanaṁ dhovantī;

I myself washed the pots.

Mātāva ekaputtakaṁ,

I looked after my husband

Tathā bhattāraṁ paricarāmi.

like a mother her only child.

Evaṁ maṁ bhattikataṁ,

Thus I showed my devotion to him,

Anurattaṁ kārikaṁ nihatamānaṁ;

a loyal, virtuous, and humble servant,

Uṭṭhāyikaṁ analasaṁ,

getting up early, and working tirelessly:

Sīlavatiṁ dussate bhattā.

yet still my husband did me wrong.

So mātarañca pitarañca,

He said to his mother and father:

Bhaṇati ‘āpucchahaṁ gamissāmi;

‘I’ll take my leave and go,

Isidāsiyā na saha vacchaṁ,

I can’t stand to live together with Isidāsī

Ekāgārehaṁ saha vatthuṁ’.

staying in the same house.’

‘Mā evaṁ putta avaca,

‘Son, don’t speak like this!

Isidāsī paṇḍitā paribyattā;

Isidāsī is astute and competent,

Uṭṭhāyikā analasā,

she gets up early and works tirelessly,

Kiṁ tuyhaṁ na rocate putta’.

son, why doesn’t she please you?’

‘Na ca me hiṁsati kiñci,

‘She hasn’t done anything to hurt me,

Na cahaṁ isidāsiyā saha vacchaṁ;

but I just can’t stand to live with her.

Dessāva me alaṁ me,

As far as I’m concerned, she’s just detestable.

Apucchāhaṁ gamissāmi’.

I’ve had enough, I’ll take my leave and go.’

Tassa vacanaṁ suṇitvā,

When they heard his words,

Sassu sasuro ca maṁ apucchiṁsu;

my father-in-law and mother-in-law asked me:

‘Kissa tayā aparaddhaṁ,

‘What did you do wrong?

Bhaṇa vissaṭṭhā yathābhūtaṁ’.

Boldly tell how it occurred.’

‘Napihaṁ aparajjhaṁ kiñci,

‘I’ve done nothing wrong,

Napi hiṁsemi na bhaṇāmi dubbacanaṁ;

I haven’t hurt him, or said anything bad.

Kiṁ sakkā kātuyye,

What can I possibly do,

Yaṁ maṁ viddessate bhattā’.

when my husband finds me so hateful?’

Te maṁ pitugharaṁ paṭinayiṁsu,

They led me back to my father’s home,

Vimanā dukhena adhibhūtā;

distraught, overcome with suffering, and said:

Puttamanurakkhamānā,

‘By caring for our son,

‘Jitāmhase rūpiniṁ lakkhiṁ’.

we’ve lost her, so lovely and lucky!’

Atha maṁ adāsi tāto,

Next my dad gave me to the household

Aḍḍhassa gharamhi dutiyakulikassa;

of a second wealthy family-man.

Tato upaḍḍhasuṅkena,

For this he got half the bride-price

Yena maṁ vindatha seṭṭhi.

of that which the financier paid.

Tassapi gharamhi māsaṁ,

In his house I also lived a month,

Avasiṁ atha sopi maṁ paṭiccharayi;

before he too wanted me gone;

Dāsīva upaṭṭhahantiṁ,

though I served him like a slave,

Adūsikaṁ sīlasampannaṁ.

virtuous and doing no wrong.

Bhikkhāya ca vicarantaṁ,

My father then spoke to a beggar for alms,

Damakaṁ dantaṁ me pitā bhaṇati;

a tamer of others and of himself:

‘Hohisi me jāmātā,

‘Be my son-in-law;

Nikkhipa poṭṭhiñca ghaṭikañca’.

set aside your tonsure-cloth and pot.’

Sopi vasitvā pakkhaṁ,

He stayed a fortnight before he said to my dad:

Atha tātaṁ bhaṇati ‘dehi me poṭṭhiṁ;

‘Give me back my tonsure-cloth,

Ghaṭikañca mallakañca,

my pot and my mug—

Punapi bhikkhaṁ carissāmi’.

I’ll wander begging again.’

Atha naṁ bhaṇatī tāto,

So then my mum and my dad

Ammā sabbo ca me ñātigaṇavaggo;

and my whole group of relatives said:

‘Kiṁ te na kīrati idha,

‘What has not been done for you here?

Bhaṇa khippaṁ taṁ te karihi’ti.

Quickly, tell us what we can do for you!’

Evaṁ bhaṇito bhaṇati,

When they spoke to him like this he said,

‘Yadi me attā sakkoti alaṁ mayhaṁ;

‘If I can make do for myself, that is enough.

Isidāsiyā na saha vacchaṁ,

I can’t stand to live together with Isidāsī

Ekagharehaṁ saha vatthuṁ’.

staying in the same house.’

Vissajjito gato so,

Released, he left.

Ahampi ekākinī vicintemi;

But I sat all alone contemplating:

‘Āpucchitūna gacchaṁ,

‘Having taken my leave, I’ll go,

Marituye vā pabbajissaṁ vā’.

either to die or to go forth.’

Atha ayyā jinadattā,

But then Mistress Jinadattā,

Āgacchī gocarāya caramānā;

learned and virtuous,

Tātakulaṁ vinayadharī,

who had memorized the monastic law,

Bahussutā sīlasampannā.

came resorting to my dad’s house for alms.

Taṁ disvāna amhākaṁ,

When I saw her,

Uṭṭhāyāsanaṁ tassā paññāpayiṁ;

I rose from my seat and prepared it for her.

Nisinnāya ca pāde,

When she had taken her seat,

Vanditvā bhojanamadāsiṁ.

I honored her feet and offered her a meal,

Annena ca pānena ca,

satiating her with food and drink,

Khajjena ca yañca tattha sannihitaṁ;

treats, or whatever was in the cupboard.

Santappayitvā avacaṁ,

Then I said:

‘Ayye icchāmi pabbajituṁ’.

‘Ma’am, I wish to go forth!’

Atha maṁ bhaṇatī tāto,

But my dad said to me:

‘Idheva puttaka carāhi tvaṁ dhammaṁ;

‘Child, practice Dhamma right here then!

Annena ca pānena ca,

With food and drink

Tappaya samaṇe dvijātī ca’.

satisfy ascetics and the twice-born.’

Athahaṁ bhaṇāmi tātaṁ,

Then I said to my dad,

Rodantī añjaliṁ paṇāmetvā;

crying, my cupped palms raised to him:

‘Pāpañhi mayā pakataṁ,

‘I’ve done bad things in the past;

Kammaṁ taṁ nijjaressāmi’.

I shall wear that bad deed away.’

Atha maṁ bhaṇatī tāto,

And my dad said to me:

‘Pāpuṇa bodhiñca aggadhammañca;

‘May you attain awakening, the highest state,

Nibbānañca labhassu,

and may you find the extinguishment

Yaṁ sacchikarī dvipadaseṭṭho’.

that was realized by the best of men!’

Mātāpitū abhivādayitvā,

I bowed down to my mother and father,

Sabbañca ñātigaṇavaggaṁ;

and my whole group of relatives;

Sattāhaṁ pabbajitā,

and then, seven days after going forth,

Tisso vijjā aphassayiṁ.

I realized the three knowledges.

Jānāmi attano satta,

I know my last seven lives;

Jātiyo yassayaṁ phalavipāko;

I shall relate to you the deeds

Taṁ tava ācikkhissaṁ,

of which this life is the fruit and result:

Taṁ ekamanā nisāmehi.

focus your whole mind on that.

Nagaramhi erakacche,

In the city of Erakacca

Suvaṇṇakāro ahaṁ pahūtadhano;

I was a goldsmith with lots of money.

Yobbanamadena matto,

Drunk on the pride of youth,

So paradāraṁ asevihaṁ.

I had sex with someone else’s wife.

Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,

Having passed away from there,

Nirayamhi apaccisaṁ ciraṁ;

I burned in hell for a long time.

Pakko tato ca uṭṭhahitvā,

Rising up from there

Makkaṭiyā kucchimokkamiṁ.

I was conceived in a monkey’s womb.

Sattāhajātakaṁ maṁ,

When I was only seven days old,

Mahākapi yūthapo nillacchesi;

I was castrated by the monkey chief.

Tassetaṁ kammaphalaṁ,

This was the fruit of that deed,

Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.

because of adultery with another’s wife.

Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,

Having passed away from there,

Kālaṁ karitvā sindhavāraññe;

passing away in Sindhava grove,

Kāṇāya ca khañjāya ca,

I was conceived in the womb

Eḷakiyā kucchimokkamiṁ.

of a lame, one-eyed she-goat.

Dvādasa vassāni ahaṁ,

I carried children on my back for twelve years,

Nillacchito dārake parivahitvā;

and all the while I was castrated,

Kimināvaṭṭo akallo,

worm-eaten, and tail-less,

Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.

because of adultery with another’s wife.

Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,

Having passed away from there,

Govāṇijakassa gāviyā jāto;

I was reborn in a cow

Vaccho lākhātambo,

owned by a cattle merchant.

Nillacchito dvādase māse.

A red calf, castrated, for twelve months

Voḍhūna naṅgalamahaṁ,

I drew a big plow.

Sakaṭañca dhārayāmi;

I shouldered a cart,

Andhovaṭṭo akallo,

blind, tail-less, feeble,

Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.

because of adultery with another’s wife.

Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,

Having passed away from there,

Vīthiyā dāsiyā ghare jāto;

I was born of a slave in the street,

Neva mahilā na puriso,

with neither male nor female parts,

Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.

because of adultery with another’s wife.

Tiṁsativassamhi mato,

I died at thirty years of age,

Sākaṭikakulamhi dārikā jātā;

and was reborn as a girl in a carter’s family.

Kapaṇamhi appabhoge,

We were poor, of little wealth,

Dhanika purisapātabahulamhi.

greatly oppressed by creditors.

Taṁ maṁ tato satthavāho,

Because of the massive interest we owed,

Ussannāya vipulāya vaḍḍhiyā;

I was dragged away screaming,

Okaḍḍhati vilapantiṁ,

taken by force from the family home

Acchinditvā kulagharasmā.

by a caravan leader.

Atha soḷasame vasse,

When I was sixteen years old,

Disvā maṁ pattayobbanaṁ kaññaṁ;

seeing I was a girl of marriageable age,

Orundhatassa putto,

his son confined me as his wife—

Giridāso nāma nāmena.

Giridāsa was his name.

Tassapi aññā bhariyā,

He also had another wife,

Sīlavatī guṇavatī yasavatī ca;

a virtuous and well-known lady of quality,

Anurattā bhattāraṁ,

loyal to her husband;

Tassāhaṁ viddesanamakāsiṁ.

yet I stirred up resentment in her.

Tassetaṁ kammaphalaṁ,

As the fruit of that deed,

Yaṁ maṁ apakīritūna gacchanti;

they abandoned me and left,

Dāsīva upaṭṭhahantiṁ,

though I served them like a slave.

Tassapi anto kato mayā”ti.

Now I’ve made an end to this as well.”

… Isidāsī therī ….

Cattālīsanipāto niṭṭhito.