Khemātherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 6.3

Verses of the Senior Nuns 6.3

Chakkanipāta

The Book of the Sixes

Khemātherīgāthā

Khemā

“Daharā tvaṁ rūpavatī,

“You’re so young and beautiful!

ahampi daharo yuvā;

I too am young, just a youth.

Pañcaṅgikena turiyena,

Come, Khemā, let us enjoy

ehi kheme ramāmase”.

the music of a five-piece band.”

“Iminā pūtikāyena,

“This body is rotting,

āturena pabhaṅgunā;

ailing and frail,

Aṭṭiyāmi harāyāmi,

I’m horrified and repelled by it,

kāmataṇhā samūhatā.

and I’ve eradicated sensual craving.

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 antaka.

you’re beaten, terminator!”

Nakkhattāni namassantā,

“Worshiping the stars,

aggiṁ paricaraṁ vane;

serving the sacred flame in a grove;

Yathābhuccamajānantā,

failing to grasp the true nature of things,

bālā suddhimamaññatha.

foolish me, I thought this was purity.

Ahañca kho namassantī,

But now I worship the Awakened One,

sambuddhaṁ purisuttamaṁ;

supreme among men.

Pamuttā sabbadukkhehi,

Doing the Teacher’s bidding,

satthusāsanakārikā”ti.

I am released from all suffering.”

… Khemā therī ….