Selātherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 3.7

Verses of the Senior Nuns 3.7

Tikanipāta

The Book of the Threes

Selātherīgāthā

Selā

“Natthi nissaraṇaṁ loke,

“There’s no escape in the world,

kiṁ vivekena kāhasi;

so what will seclusion do for you?

Bhuñjāhi kāmaratiyo,

Enjoy erotic delights;

māhu pacchānutāpinī”.

don’t regret it later.”

“Sattisūlūpamā kāmā,

“Sensual pleasures are like swords and spears

khandhāsaṁ adhikuṭṭanā;

the aggregates are their chopping block.

Yaṁ tvaṁ ‘kāmaratiṁ’ brūsi,

What you call erotic delight

‘aratī’ dāni sā mama.

is now no delight for me.

Sabbattha vihatā nandī,

Relishing is banished in every respect,

Tamokhandho padālito;

and the mass of darkness is shattered.

Evaṁ jānāhi pāpima,

So know this, Wicked One:

Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.

you’re beaten, terminator!”

… Selā therī ….