Mittākāḷītherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 5.6

Verses of the Senior Nuns 5.6

Pañcakanipāta

The Book of the Fives

Mittākāḷītherīgāthā

Mittākāḷī

“Saddhāya pabbajitvāna,

Having gone forth in faith

agārasmānagāriyaṁ;

from the lay life to homelessness,

Vicariṁhaṁ tena tena,

I wandered here and there,

lābhasakkāraussukā.

jealous of possessions and honors.

Riñcitvā paramaṁ atthaṁ,

Neglecting the highest goal,

hīnamatthaṁ asevihaṁ;

I pursued the lowest.

Kilesānaṁ vasaṁ gantvā,

Under the sway of corruptions,

sāmaññatthaṁ na bujjhihaṁ.

I never knew the goal of the ascetic life.

Tassā me ahu saṁvego,

I was struck with a sense of urgency

nisinnāya vihārake;

as I was sitting in my hut:

Ummaggapaṭipannāmhi,

“I’m walking the wrong path,

taṇhāya vasamāgatā.

under the sway of craving.

Appakaṁ jīvitaṁ mayhaṁ,

My life is short,

jarā byādhi ca maddati;

trampled by old age and sickness.

Purāyaṁ bhijjati kāyo,

Before this body breaks apart,

na me kālo pamajjituṁ.

there is no time for me to be careless.”

Yathābhūtamavekkhantī,

I examined in line with the truth

khandhānaṁ udayabbayaṁ;

the rise and fall of the aggregates.

Vimuttacittā uṭṭhāsiṁ,

I stood up with mind liberated,

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanan”ti.

having fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

… Mittā kāḷī therī ….