Sundarīnandātherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 5.4

Verses of the Senior Nuns 5.4

Pañcakanipāta

The Book of the Fives

Sundarīnandātherīgāthā

Sundarīnandā

“Āturaṁ asuciṁ pūtiṁ,

“Nandā, see this bag of bones as

passa nande samussayaṁ;

diseased, filthy, and rotten.

Asubhāya cittaṁ bhāvehi,

With mind unified and serene,

ekaggaṁ susamāhitaṁ.

meditate on the ugly aspects of the body:

Yathā idaṁ tathā etaṁ,

as this is, so is that,

yathā etaṁ tathā idaṁ;

as that is, so is this.

Duggandhaṁ pūtikaṁ vāti,

A foul stink wafts from it,

bālānaṁ abhinanditaṁ.

it is the fools’ delight.”

Evametaṁ avekkhantī,

Reflecting in such a way,

rattindivamatanditā;

tireless all day and night,

Tato sakāya paññāya,

having broken through

abhinibbijjha dakkhisaṁ”.

with my own wisdom, I saw.

“Tassā me appamattāya,

Being diligent,

vicinantiyā yoniso;

rationally investigating,

Yathābhūtaṁ ayaṁ kāyo,

I truly saw this body

diṭṭho santarabāhiro.

both inside and out.

Atha nibbindahaṁ kāye,

Then, growing disillusioned with the body,

ajjhattañca virajjahaṁ;

I became dispassionate within.

Appamattā visaṁyuttā,

Diligent, detached,

upasantāmhi nibbutā”ti.

I’m quenched and at peace.

… Sundarīnandā therī ….