Cālātherīgāthā

Therīgāthā 7.2

Verses of the Senior Nuns 7.2

Sattakanipāta

The Book of the Sevens

Cālātherīgāthā

Cālā

“Satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvāna,

“As a nun with developed faculties,

bhikkhunī bhāvitindriyā;

having established mindfulness,

Paṭivijjhi padaṁ santaṁ,

I penetrated that peaceful state,

saṅkhārūpasamaṁ sukhaṁ”.

the blissful stilling of conditions.”

“Kaṁ nu uddissa muṇḍāsi,

“In whose name did you shave your head?

samaṇī viya dissasi;

You look like an ascetic,

Na ca rocesi pāsaṇḍe,

but you don’t approve any creed.

kimidaṁ carasi momuhā”.

Why do you wander as if lost?”

“Ito bahiddhā pāsaṇḍā,

“Followers of other creeds

diṭṭhiyo upanissitā;

rely on their views.

Na te dhammaṁ vijānanti,

They don’t understand the Dhamma,

na te dhammassa kovidā.

for they’re no experts in the Dhamma.

Atthi sakyakule jāto,

But there is one born in the Sakyan clan,

buddho appaṭipuggalo;

the unrivaled Buddha;

So me dhammamadesesi,

he taught me the Dhamma

diṭṭhīnaṁ samatikkamaṁ.

for going beyond views.

Dukkhaṁ dukkhasamuppādaṁ,

Suffering, suffering’s origin,

Dukkhassa ca atikkamaṁ;

suffering’s transcendence,

Ariyaṁ caṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,

and the noble eightfold path

Dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

that leads to the stilling of suffering.

Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā,

After hearing his words,

vihariṁ sāsane ratā;

I happily did his bidding.

Tisso vijjā anuppattā,

I’ve attained the three knowledges

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

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!”

… Cālā therī ….