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Verses of the Senior Nuns 69 थेरीगाथा 69

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Sundarītherīgāthā

Pāli in Devanagari; under each word its Roman pronunciation, syllable by syllable (ṃ = nasal hum). Tap a Pāli word for its meaning (PTS Pāli-English Dictionary); tap again to open it in the Pāli dictionary.

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1

थेरीगाथाthe·rī·gā·thā 13।4

Therīgāthā 13.4

Verses of the Senior Nuns 13.4
2

वीसतिनिपातvī·sa·ti·ni·pā·ta

Vīsatinipāta

The Book of the Twenties
3

सुन्दरीथेरीगाथाsun·da·rī·the·rī·gā·thā

Sundarītherīgāthā

Sundarī
4

“पेतानिpe·tā·ni भोतिbho·ti पुत्तानि,put·tā·ni

“Petāni bhoti puttāni,

“Before, worthy lady, when feeding
5

खादमानाkhā·da·mā·nā तुवंtu·vaṃ पुरे;pu·re

khādamānā tuvaṁ pure;

your departed children,
6

तुवंtu·vaṃ दिवाdi·vā चca रत्तोrat·to च,ca

Tuvaṁ divā ca ratto ca,

you’d be racked with despair
7

अतीवa·tī·va परितप्पसि।pa·ri·tap·pa·si

atīva paritappasi.

all day and all night.
8

साज्जsāj·ja सब्बानिsab·bā·ni खादित्वा,khā·dit·vā

Sājja sabbāni khāditvā,

Today, brahmin lady, you have fed
9

सतपुत्तानिsa·ta·put·tā·ni ब्राह्मणी;brāh·ma·ṇī

sataputtāni brāhmaṇī;

all seven children.
10

वासेट्ठिvā·seṭ·ṭhi केनke·na वण्णेन,vaṇ·ṇe·na

Vāseṭṭhi kena vaṇṇena,

Vāseṭṭhī, how do you explain why
11

नna बाळ्हंbā·ḷhaṃ परितप्पसि”।pa·ri·tap·pa·si

na bāḷhaṁ paritappasi”.

you’re not so filled with despair?”
12

“बहूनिba·hū·ni पुत्तसतानि,put·ta·sa·tā·ni

“Bahūni puttasatāni,

“Many hundreds of children,
13

ञातिसङ्घसतानिñā·ti·saṅ·gha·sa·tā·ni च;ca

ñātisaṅghasatāni ca;

hundreds of family circles,
14

खादितानिkhā·di·tā·ni अतीतंसे,a·tī·taṃ·se

Khāditāni atītaṁse,

both mine and yours, brahmin,
15

ममma·ma तुय्हञ्चtuy·hañ·ca ब्राह्मण।brāh·ma·ṇa

mama tuyhañca brāhmaṇa.

have been fed in the past.
16

साहंsā·haṃ निस्सरणंnis·sa·ra·ṇaṃ ञत्वा,ñat·vā

Sāhaṁ nissaraṇaṁ ñatvā,

Having known the escape
17

जातियाjā·ti·yā मरणस्सma·ra·ṇas·sa च;ca

jātiyā maraṇassa ca;

from rebirth and death
18

नna सोचामिso·cā·mi नna रोदामि,ro·dā·mi

Na socāmi na rodāmi,

I neither grieve nor lament,
19

नna चापिcā·pi परितप्पयिं”।pa·ri·tap·pa·yiṃ

na cāpi paritappayiṁ”.

nor do I despair.”
20

“अब्भुतंab·bhu·taṃ वतva·ta वासेट्ठि,vā·seṭ·ṭhi

“Abbhutaṁ vata vāseṭṭhi,

“Wow, Vaseṭṭhī, the words you speak
21

वाचंvā·caṃ भाससिbhā·sa·si एदिसिं;e·di·siṃ

vācaṁ bhāsasi edisiṁ;

really are amazing!
22

कस्सkas·sa त्वंtvaṃ धम्ममञ्ञाय,dham·ma·mañ·ñā·ya

Kassa tvaṁ dhammamaññāya,

Whose teaching did you understand
23

गिरंgi·raṃ भाससिbhā·sa·si एदिसिं”।e·di·siṃ

giraṁ bhāsasi edisiṁ”.

that you say these things?”
24

“एसe·sa ब्राह्मणbrāh·ma·ṇa सम्बुद्धो,sam·bud·dho

“Esa brāhmaṇa sambuddho,

“Brahmin, the Awakened One
25

नगरंna·ga·raṃ मिथिलंmi·thi·laṃ पति;pa·ti

nagaraṁ mithilaṁ pati;

back at the city of Mithilā,
26

सब्बदुक्खप्पहानाय,sab·ba·duk·khap·pa·hā·nā·ya

Sabbadukkhappahānāya,

teaches the Dhamma so that living creatures
27

धम्मंdham·maṃ देसेसिde·se·si पाणिनं।pā·ṇi·naṃ

dhammaṁ desesi pāṇinaṁ.

may abandon all suffering.
28

तस्सtas·sa ब्रह्मेbrah·me अरहतो,a·ra·ha·to

Tassa brahme arahato,

After hearing the perfected one’s teaching,
29

धम्मंdham·maṃ सुत्वाsut·vā निरूपधिं;ni·rū·pa·dhiṃ

dhammaṁ sutvā nirūpadhiṁ;

brahmin, which is free of all attachments,
30

तत्थtat·tha विञ्ञातसद्धम्मा,viñ·ñā·ta·sad·dham·mā

Tattha viññātasaddhammā,

having understood the true teaching there,
31

पुत्तसोकंput·ta·so·kaṃ ब्यपानुदिं”।bya·pā·nu·diṃ

puttasokaṁ byapānudiṁ”.

I’ve cast aside grief for children.”
32

“सोso अहम्पिa·ham·pi गमिस्सामि,ga·mis·sā·mi

“So ahampi gamissāmi,

“I too shall go
33

नगरंna·ga·raṃ मिथिलंmi·thi·laṃ पति;pa·ti

nagaraṁ mithilaṁ pati;

to the city of Mithilā.
34

अप्पेवap·pe·va मंmaṃ सोso भगवा,bha·ga·vā

Appeva maṁ so bhagavā,

Hopefully the Buddha may release me
35

सब्बदुक्खाsab·ba·duk·khā पमोचये”।pa·mo·ca·ye

sabbadukkhā pamocaye”.

from all suffering.”
36

अद्दसad·da·sa ब्राह्मणोbrāh·ma·ṇo बुद्धं,bud·dhaṃ

Addasa brāhmaṇo buddhaṁ,

The brahmin saw the Buddha,
37

विप्पमुत्तंvip·pa·mut·taṃ निरूपधिं;ni·rū·pa·dhiṃ

vippamuttaṁ nirūpadhiṁ;

liberated, free of attachments.
38

स्वस्सsvas·sa धम्ममदेसेसि,dham·ma·ma·de·se·si

Svassa dhammamadesesi,

He taught him the Dhamma,
39

मुनिmu·ni दुक्खस्सduk·khas·sa पारगू।pā·ra·gū

muni dukkhassa pāragū.

the sage gone beyond suffering:
40

दुक्खंduk·khaṃ दुक्खसमुप्पादं,duk·kha·sa·mup·pā·daṃ

Dukkhaṁ dukkhasamuppādaṁ,

suffering, suffering’s origin,
41

दुक्खस्सduk·khas·sa चca अतिक्कमं;a·tik·ka·maṃ

dukkhassa ca atikkamaṁ;

suffering’s transcendence,
42

अरियंa·ri·yaṃ चट्ठङ्गिकंcaṭ·ṭhaṅ·gi·kaṃ मग्गं,mag·gaṃ

Ariyaṁ caṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,

and the noble eightfold path
43

दुक्खूपसमगामिनं।duk·khū·pa·sa·ma·gā·mi·naṃ

dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

that leads to the stilling of suffering.
44

तत्थtat·tha विञ्ञातसद्धम्मो,viñ·ñā·ta·sad·dham·mo

Tattha viññātasaddhammo,

Having understood the true teaching there,
45

पब्बज्जंpab·baj·jaṃ समरोचयि;sa·ma·ro·ca·yi

pabbajjaṁ samarocayi;

he chose to go forth.
46

सुजातोsu·jā·to तीहिtī·hi रत्तीहि,rat·tī·hi

Sujāto tīhi rattīhi,

Three days later
47

तिस्सोtis·so विज्जाvij·jā अफस्सयि।a·phas·sa·yi

tisso vijjā aphassayi.

Sujāta realized the three knowledges.
48

“एहिe·hi सारथिsā·ra·thi गच्छाहि,gac·chā·hi

“Ehi sārathi gacchāhi,

“Please, charioteer, go;
49

रथंra·thaṃ निय्यादयाहिमं;niy·yā·da·yā·hi·maṃ

rathaṁ niyyādayāhimaṁ;

take back this carriage.
50

आरोग्यंā·rog·yaṃ ब्राह्मणिंbrāh·ma·ṇiṃ वज्ज,vaj·ja

Ārogyaṁ brāhmaṇiṁ vajja,

Bidding my brahmin lady good health, say:
51

‘पब्बजिpab·ba·ji दानिdā·ni ब्राह्मणो;brāh·ma·ṇo

‘pabbaji dāni brāhmaṇo;

‘The brahmin has now gone forth.
52

सुजातोsu·jā·to तीहिtī·hi रत्तीहि,rat·tī·hi

Sujāto tīhi rattīhi,

After three days,
53

तिस्सोtis·so विज्जाvij·jā अफस्सयि’”।a·phas·sa·yi

tisso vijjā aphassayi’”.

Sujāta realized the three knowledges.’”
54

ततोta·to चca रथमादाय,ra·tha·mā·dā·ya

Tato ca rathamādāya,

Then taking the carriage,
55

सहस्सञ्चापिsa·has·sañ·cā·pi सारथि;sā·ra·thi

sahassañcāpi sārathi;

along with a thousand coins, the charioteer
56

आरोग्यंā·rog·yaṃ ब्राह्मणिंवोच,brāh·ma·ṇiṃ·vo·ca

Ārogyaṁ brāhmaṇiṁvoca,

bade the brahmin lady good health, and said:
57

“पब्बजिpab·ba·ji दानिdā·ni ब्राह्मणो;brāh·ma·ṇo

“pabbaji dāni brāhmaṇo;

“The brahmin has now gone forth.
58

सुजातोsu·jā·to तीहिtī·hi रत्तीहि,rat·tī·hi

Sujāto tīhi rattīhi,

After three days,
59

तिस्सोtis·so विज्जाvij·jā अफस्सयि”।a·phas·sa·yi

tisso vijjā aphassayi”.

Sujāta realized the three knowledges.”
60

“एतञ्चाहंe·tañ·cā·haṃ अस्सरथं,as·sa·ra·thaṃ

“Etañcāhaṁ assarathaṁ,

Hearing that the brahmin had the three knowledges, <j>the lady replied:
61

सहस्सञ्चापिsa·has·sañ·cā·pi सारथि;sā·ra·thi

sahassañcāpi sārathi;

“I present to you this horse and carriage,
62

तेविज्जंte·vij·jaṃ ब्राह्मणंbrāh·ma·ṇaṃ सुत्वा,sut·vā

Tevijjaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sutvā,

O charioteer, along with 1000 coins,
63

पुण्णपत्तंpuṇ·ṇa·pat·taṃ ददामिda·dā·mi ते”।te

puṇṇapattaṁ dadāmi te”.

and a full bowl as a gift.”
64

“तुय्हेवtuy·he·va होत्वस्सरथो,hot·vas·sa·ra·tho

“Tuyheva hotvassaratho,

“Keep the horse and carriage, lady,
65

सहस्सञ्चापिsa·has·sañ·cā·pi ब्राह्मणि;brāh·ma·ṇi

sahassañcāpi brāhmaṇi;

along with the thousand coins.
66

अहम्पिa·ham·pi पब्बजिस्सामि,pab·ba·jis·sā·mi

Ahampi pabbajissāmi,

I too shall go forth in his presence,
67

वरपञ्ञस्सva·ra·pañ·ñas·sa सन्तिके”।san·ti·ke

varapaññassa santike”.

the one of such outstanding wisdom.”
68

“हत्थीhat·thī गवस्संga·vas·saṃ मणिकुण्डलञ्च,ma·ṇi·kuṇ·ḍa·lañ·ca

“Hatthī gavassaṁ maṇikuṇḍalañca,

“Elephants, cattle, jeweled earrings,
69

फीतञ्चिमंphī·tañ·ci·maṃ गहविभवंga·ha·vi·bha·vaṃ पहाय;pa·hā·ya

Phītañcimaṁ gahavibhavaṁ pahāya;

such opulent domestic worth:
70

पिताpi·tā पब्बजितोpab·ba·ji·to तुय्हं,tuy·haṃ

Pitā pabbajito tuyhaṁ,

having given it up, your father went forth,
71

भुञ्जbhuñ·ja भोगानिbho·gā·ni सुन्दरी;sun·da·rī

Bhuñja bhogāni sundarī;

enjoy these riches Sundarī,
72

तुवंtu·vaṃ दायादिकाdā·yā·di·kā कुले”।ku·le

Tuvaṁ dāyādikā kule”.

you are the family heir.”
73

“हत्थीhat·thī गवस्संga·vas·saṃ मणिकुण्डलञ्च,ma·ṇi·kuṇ·ḍa·lañ·ca

“Hatthī gavassaṁ maṇikuṇḍalañca,

“Elephants, cattle, jeweled earrings,
74

रम्मंram·maṃ चिमंci·maṃ गहविभवंga·ha·vi·bha·vaṃ पहाय;pa·hā·ya

Rammaṁ cimaṁ gahavibhavaṁ pahāya;

such delightful domestic worth:
75

पिताpi·tā पब्बजितोpab·ba·ji·to मय्हं,may·haṃ

Pitā pabbajito mayhaṁ,

having given it up, my father went forth,
76

पुत्तसोकेनput·ta·so·ke·na अट्टितो;aṭ·ṭi·to

Puttasokena aṭṭito;

racked by grief for his son.
77

अहम्पिa·ham·pi पब्बजिस्सामि,pab·ba·jis·sā·mi

Ahampi pabbajissāmi,

I too shall go forth,
78

भातुसोकेनbhā·tu·so·ke·na अट्टिता”।aṭ·ṭi·tā

Bhātusokena aṭṭitā”.

racked by grief for my brother.”
79

“सोso तेte इज्झतुij·jha·tu सङ्कप्पो,saṅ·kap·po

“So te ijjhatu saṅkappo,

“Sundarī, may the wish you desire
80

यंyaṃ त्वंtvaṃ पत्थेसिpat·the·si सुन्दरी;sun·da·rī

yaṁ tvaṁ patthesi sundarī;

come true.
81

उत्तिट्ठपिण्डोut·tiṭ·ṭha·piṇ·ḍo उञ्छोuñ·cho च,ca

Uttiṭṭhapiṇḍo uñcho ca,

Leftovers as gleanings,
82

पंसुकूलञ्चpaṃ·su·kū·lañ·ca चीवरं;cī·va·raṃ

paṁsukūlañca cīvaraṁ;

and cast-off rags as robes—
83

एतानिe·tā·ni अभिसम्भोन्ती,a·bhi·sam·bhon·tī

Etāni abhisambhontī,

make do with these,
84

परलोकेpa·ra·lo·ke अनासवा”।a·nā·sa·vā

paraloke anāsavā”.

free of defilements regarding the next life.”
85

“सिक्खमानायsik·kha·mā·nā·ya मेme अय्ये,ay·ye

“Sikkhamānāya me ayye,

“Ma’am, while I am still a trainee nun,
86

दिब्बचक्खुdib·ba·cak·khu विसोधितं;vi·so·dhi·taṃ

dibbacakkhu visodhitaṁ;

my clairvoyance is clarified;
87

पुब्बेनिवासंpub·be·ni·vā·saṃ जानामि,jā·nā·mi

Pubbenivāsaṁ jānāmi,

I know my past lives,
88

यत्थyat·tha मेme वुसितंvu·si·taṃ पुरे।pu·re

yattha me vusitaṁ pure.

the places I used to live.
89

तुवंtu·vaṃ निस्सायnis·sā·ya कल्याणि,kal·yā·ṇi

Tuvaṁ nissāya kalyāṇi,

Relying on a fine lady like you,
90

थेरिthe·ri सङ्घस्सsaṅ·ghas·sa सोभने;so·bha·ne

theri saṅghassa sobhane;

a senior nun who graces the Saṅgha,
91

तिस्सोtis·so विज्जाvij·jā अनुप्पत्ता,a·nup·pat·tā

Tisso vijjā anuppattā,

I’ve attained the three knowledges,
92

कतंka·taṃ बुद्धस्सbud·dhas·sa सासनं।sā·sa·naṃ

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.
93

अनुजानाहिa·nu·jā·nā·hi मेme अय्ये,ay·ye

Anujānāhi me ayye,

Give me permission ma’am,
94

इच्छेic·che सावत्थिsā·vat·thi गन्तवे;gan·ta·ve

icche sāvatthi gantave;

I wish to go to Sāvatthī,
95

सीहनादंsī·ha·nā·daṃ नदिस्सामि,na·dis·sā·mi

Sīhanādaṁ nadissāmi,

where I shall roar my lion’s roar
96

बुद्धसेट्ठस्सbud·dha·seṭ·ṭhas·sa सन्तिके”।san·ti·ke

buddhaseṭṭhassa santike”.

before the best of Buddhas.”
97

“पस्सpas·sa सुन्दरिsun·da·ri सत्थारं,sat·thā·raṃ

“Passa sundari satthāraṁ,

“Sundarī, see the Teacher!
98

हेमवण्णंhe·ma·vaṇ·ṇaṃ हरित्तचं;ha·rit·ta·caṃ

hemavaṇṇaṁ harittacaṁ;

Snow gold in tint, <j>with sun-golden skin;
99

अदन्तानंa·dan·tā·naṃ दमेतारं,da·me·tā·raṃ

Adantānaṁ dametāraṁ,

tamer of the untamed,
100

सम्बुद्धमकुतोभयं”।sam·bud·dha·ma·ku·to·bha·yaṃ

sambuddhamakutobhayaṁ”.

the Awakened One who fears nothing <j>from any quarter.”
101

“पस्सpas·sa सुन्दरिमायन्तिं,sun·da·ri·mā·yan·tiṃ

“Passa sundarimāyantiṁ,

“See Sundarī coming,
102

विप्पमुत्तंvip·pa·mut·taṃ निरूपधिं;ni·rū·pa·dhiṃ

vippamuttaṁ nirūpadhiṁ;

liberated, free of attachments.
103

वीतरागंvī·ta·rā·gaṃ विसंयुत्तं,vi·saṃ·yut·taṃ

Vītarāgaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,

desireless, detached,
104

कतकिच्चमनासवं।ka·ta·kic·ca·ma·nā·sa·vaṃ

katakiccamanāsavaṁ.

her task completed, without defilements.”
105

बाराणसितोbā·rā·ṇa·si·to निक्खम्म,nik·kham·ma

Bārāṇasito nikkhamma,

“Having set forth from Varanasi
106

तवta·va सन्तिकमागता;san·ti·ka·mā·ga·tā

tava santikamāgatā;

and come to your presence, great hero,
107

साविकाsā·vi·kā तेte महावीर,ma·hā·vī·ra

Sāvikā te mahāvīra,

your disciple Sundarī
108

पादेpā·de वन्दतिvan·da·ti सुन्दरी।sun·da·rī

pāde vandati sundarī.

bows at your feet.
109

तुवंtu·vaṃ बुद्धोbud·dho तुवंtu·vaṃ सत्था,sat·thā

Tuvaṁ buddho tuvaṁ satthā,

You are the Buddha, you are the Teacher,
110

तुय्हंtuy·haṃ धीताम्हिdhī·tām·hi ब्राह्मण;brāh·ma·ṇa

tuyhaṁ dhītāmhi brāhmaṇa;

I am your bosom daughter, brahmin,
111

ओरसाo·ra·sā मुखतोmu·kha·to जाता,jā·tā

Orasā mukhato jātā,

born of your mouth.
112

कतकिच्चाka·ta·kic·cā अनासवा”।a·nā·sa·vā

katakiccā anāsavā”.

I’ve completed the task <j>and am free of defilements.”
113

“तस्साtas·sā तेte स्वागतंsvā·ga·taṃ भद्दे,bhad·de

“Tassā te svāgataṁ bhadde,

“Then welcome, good lady,
114

ततोta·to तेte अदुरागतं;a·du·rā·ga·taṃ

tato te adurāgataṁ;

you’re by no means unwelcome.
115

एवञ्हिe·vañ·hi दन्ताdan·tā आयन्ति,ā·yan·ti

Evañhi dantā āyanti,

For this is how the tamed come
116

सत्थुsat·thu पादानिpā·dā·ni वन्दिका;van·di·kā

satthu pādāni vandikā;

bowing at the Teacher’s feet;
117

वीतरागाvī·ta·rā·gā विसंयुत्ता,vi·saṃ·yut·tā

Vītarāgā visaṁyuttā,

desireless, detached,
118

कतकिच्चाka·ta·kic·cā अनासवा”।a·nā·sa·vā

katakiccā anāsavā”.

the task completed, without defilements.”
119

… सुन्दरीsun·da·rī थेरीthe·rī …।

… Sundarī therī ….

(Pāli only)

Sources. Sanskrit: Satyavedaḥ, the New Testament in Sanskrit (Calcutta Baptist Missionaries, 1851; J. Wenger’s revision of W. Carey’s version). Digital text © 2018 SanskritBible.in, via eBible.org, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; changed here: arranged by verse and every word linked to the dictionary (links made automatically). Old Testament Sanskrit: the Old Testament in Sanskrit, Calcutta Baptist Mission Press, 1848–1852 (public domain), read by OCR from the Internet Archive scans of the Boston University School of Theology copy; unproofread, with machine clean-up only. Pāli Canon: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka Buddhavasse 2500 (based on the Vipassana Research Institute’s Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyana edition), from SuttaCentral bilara-data, CC0; Devanagari and pronunciation made automatically from the Roman text. Pāli English: Bhikkhu Sujato (suttas) and Bhikkhu Brahmali (Vinaya), SuttaCentral, CC0. Pāli word meanings: the Pali Text Society’s Pali-English Dictionary (Rhys Davids & Stede), corrected reprint © The Pali Text Society, CC BY-NC 3.0, digital text from BuddhaDust; word matching automatic. English: King James Version (1769), public domain; words the translators added are in italics. Word meanings and pronunciations: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1872), via this site’s Sanskrit dictionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); English↔Sanskrit word matches made automatically and may need checking.