Candātherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 5.12

Verses of the Senior Nuns 5.12

Pañcakanipāta

The Book of the Fives

Candātherīgāthā

Candā

“Duggatāhaṁ pure āsiṁ,

I used to be in a sorry state.

vidhavā ca aputtikā;

As a childless widow,

Vinā mittehi ñātīhi,

bereft of friends or relatives,

bhattacoḷassa nādhigaṁ.

I got neither food nor clothes.

Pattaṁ daṇḍañca gaṇhitvā,

I took a bowl and a staff

bhikkhamānā kulā kulaṁ;

and went begging from family to family.

Sītuṇhena ca ḍayhantī,

For seven years I wandered,

satta vassāni cārihaṁ.

burned by heat and cold.

Bhikkhuniṁ puna disvāna,

Then I saw a nun

annapānassa lābhiniṁ;

receiving food and drink.

Upasaṅkamma avocaṁ,

Approaching her, I said:

‘pabbajjaṁ anagāriyaṁ’.

“Send me forth to homelessness.”

Sā ca maṁ anukampāya,

Out of sympathy for me,

pabbājesi paṭācārā;

Paṭācārā gave me the going forth.

Tato maṁ ovaditvāna,

Then, having advised me,

paramatthe niyojayi.

she urged me on to the ultimate goal.

Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā,

After hearing her words,

akāsiṁ anusāsaniṁ;

I did her bidding.

Amogho ayyāyovādo,

The lady’s advice was not in vain:

tevijjāmhi anāsavā”ti.

master of the three knowledges,
I am free of defilements.

… Candā therī ….

Pañcakanipāto niṭṭhito.