1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Then, late at night, the beautiful Kokanadā, Pajjunna’s daughter, lighting up the entire Great Wood, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

2“Staying in the woods of Vesālī
is the Buddha, best of beings.
Kokanadā am I who worships him,
Kokanadā, Pajjuna’s daughter.

3Previously I had only heard
the teaching realized by the seer.
But now I know it as a witness
while the sage, the Holy One teaches.

4There are unintelligent people who go about
denouncing the noble teaching.
They fall into the terrible Hell of Screams
where they suffer long.

4There are those who have found acceptance and peace
in the noble teaching.
After giving up this human body,
they swell the hosts of gods.”

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ vihārati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

Atha kho kokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ mahāvanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā kokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi: 

2"Vesāliyaṁ vane vihārantaṁ,
Aggaṁ sattassa sambuddhaṁ;
Kokanadāhamasmi abhivande,
Kokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā.

3Sutameva pure āsi,
Dhammo cakkhumatānubuddho;
Sāhaṁ dāni sakkhi jānāmi,
Munino desayato sugatassa.

4Ye keci ariyaṁ dhammaṁ,
Vigarahantā caranti dummedhā;
Upenti roruvaṁ ghoraṁ,
Cirarattaṁ dukkhaṁ anubhavanti.

5Ye ca kho ariye dhamme,
Khantiyā upasamena upetā;
Pahāya mānusaṁ dehaṁ,
Devakāyaṁ paripūressantī"ti.