Bhaddākuṇḍalakesātherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 5.9

Verses of the Senior Nuns 5.9

Pañcakanipāta

The Book of the Fives

Bhaddākuṇḍalakesātherīgāthā

Bhaddā of the Curly Hair

“Lūnakesī paṅkadharī,

My hair mown off, covered in mud,

ekasāṭī pure cariṁ;

I used to wander wearing just one robe.

Avajje vajjamatinī,

I saw fault where there was none,

vajje cāvajjadassinī.

and was blind to the actual fault.

Divāvihārā nikkhamma,

Leaving my day’s meditation

gijjhakūṭamhi pabbate;

on Vulture’s Peak Mountain,

Addasaṁ virajaṁ buddhaṁ,

I saw the stainless Buddha

bhikkhusaṅghapurakkhataṁ.

at the fore of the mendicant Saṅgha.

Nihacca jāṇuṁ vanditvā,

I bent my knee and bowed,

sammukhā añjaliṁ akaṁ;

and in his presence raised my cupped palms.

‘Ehi bhadde’ti maṁ avaca,

“Come Bhaddā,” he said;

sā me āsūpasampadā.

that was my ordination.

Ciṇṇā aṅgā ca magadhā,

“I’ve wandered among the Aṅgans and Magadhans,

vajjī kāsī ca kosalā;

the Vajjis, Kāsis, and Kosalans.

Anaṇā paṇṇāsa vassāni,

I have eaten the almsfood of the nations

raṭṭhapiṇḍaṁ abhuñjahaṁ.

free of debt for fifty years.”

Puññaṁ vata pasavi bahuṁ,

“O! He has made so much merit!

Sappañño vatāyaṁ upāsako;

That lay follower is so very wise.

Yo bhaddāya cīvaraṁ adāsi,

He gave a robe to Bhaddā,

Vippamuttāya sabbaganthehī”ti.

who is released from all ties.”

… Bhaddā kuṇḍalakesā therī ….