An Unnamed Nun (1st)

1 Sleep softly, little nun,
wrapped in the cloth you sewed yourself;
for your desire has been quelled,
like vegetables boiled dry in a pot.

That is how this verse was recited by a certain unnamed nun.

Muttā (1st)

2 Muttā, be released from your bonds,
like the moon released from the eclipse.
When your mind is released,
enjoy your alms free of debt.

That is how the Buddha regularly advised the trainee nun Muttā with these verses.

Punna

3 Puṇṇā, be filled with good qualities,
like the moon on the fifteenth day.
When your wisdom is full,
shatter the mass of darkness.

That is how this verse was recited by the senior nun Puṇṇā.

Tissā

4 Tissā, train in the trainings—
don’t let the practice pass you by.
Detached from all attachments,
live in the world free of defilements.

Another Tissā

5 Tissā, apply yourself to good qualities—
don’t let the moment pass you by.
For if you miss your moment,
you’ll grieve when sent to hell.

Dhīrā

6 Dhīrā, touch cessation,
the blissful stilling of perception.
Win extinguishment,
the supreme sanctuary.

Vīrā

7 She’s known as Vīrā because of her heroic qualities,
a nun with faculties developed.
She bears her final body,
having vanquished Māra and his mount.

Mittā (1st)

8 Having gone forth out of faith,
appreciate your spiritual friends, Mittā.
Develop skillful qualities
for the sake of finding sanctuary.

Bhadrā

9 Having gone forth out of faith,
appreciate your blessings, Bhadrā.
Develop skillful qualities
for the sake of the supreme sanctuary.

Upasamā

10 Upasamā, cross the flood,
Death’s domain so hard to pass.
When you have vanquished Māra and his mount,
bear your final body.

Mutta (2nd)

11I’m well freed, so very well freed,
freed from the three things that bent me over:
the mortar, the pestle,
and my humpbacked husband.
I’m freed from birth and death;
the conduit to rebirth is eradicated.

Dhammadinnā

12 One who is eager and determined
would be filled with awareness.
Their mind not bound to pleasures of sense,
they’re said to be heading upstream.

Visākhā

13 Do the Buddha’s bidding,
you won’t regret it.
Having quickly washed your feet,
sit in a discreet place to meditate.

Sumanā

14 Having seen the elements as suffering,
don’t get reborn again.
When you’ve discarded desire for rebirth,
you will live at peace.

Uttarā (1st)

15 I was restrained
in body, speech, and mind.
Having plucked out craving, root and all,
I’m cooled and quenched.

Sumanā, Who Went Forth Late in Life

16 Sleep softly, old lady,
wrapped in the cloth you sewed yourself;
for your desire has been quelled,
you’re cooled and quenched.

Dhamma

17 I wandered for alms
though feeble, leaning on a staff.
My limbs wobbled
and I fell to the ground right there.
Seeing the danger of the body,
my mind was freed.

Saṇghā

18 I gave up my home, my child, my cattle,
and all that I love, and went forth.
And now that I’ve given up desire and hate,
dispelled ignorance,
and plucked out craving, root and all,
I’m at peace, I’m quenched.

Aññatarātherīgāthā

1 p_19Th2_2"Sukhaṁ supāhi therike,
Katvā coḷena pārutā;
Upasanto hi te rāgo,
Sukkhaḍākaṁ va kumbhiyan"ti.

Itthaṁ sudaṁ aññatarā therī apaññātā bhikkhunī gāthaṁ abhāsitthāti.

Muttātherīgāthā

2p_19Th2_4"Mutte muccassu yogehi,
cando rāhuggahā iva;
Vippamuttena cittena,
anaṇā bhuñja piṇḍakan"ti.

Itthaṁ sudaṁ bhagavā muttaṁ sikkhamānaṁ imāya gāthāya abhiṇhaṁ ovadatīti.

Puṇṇātherīgāthā

3p_19Th2_6"Puṇṇe pūrassu dhammehi,
Cando pannaraseriva;
Paripuṇṇāya paññāya,
Tamokhandhaṁ padālayā"ti.

Itthaṁ sudaṁ puṇṇā therī gāthaṁ abhāsitthāti.

Tissātherīgāthā

4p_19Th2_8"Tisse sikkhassu sikkhāya,
mā taṁ yogā upaccaguṁ;
Sabbayogavisaṁyuttā,
cara loke anāsavā"ti.

Aññatarātissātherīgāthā

5p_19Th2_10"Tisse yuñjassu dhammehi,
khaṇo taṁ mā upaccagā;
Khaṇātītā hi socanti,
nirayamhi samappitā"ti.

Dhīrātherīgāthā

6 p_19Th2_12"Dhīre nirodhaṁ phusehi,
Saññāvūpasamaṁ sukhaṁ;
Ārādhayāhi nibbānaṁ,
Yogakkhemamanuttaran"ti.

Vīrātherīgāthā

7p_19Th2_14"Vīrā vīrehi dhammehi,
bhikkhunī bhāvitindriyā;
Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ,
jetvā māraṁ savāhinin"ti.

Mittātherīgāthā

8p_19Th2_16"Saddhāya pabbajitvāna,
mitte mittaratā bhava;
Bhāvehi kusale dhamme,
yogakkhemassa pattiyā"ti.

Bhadrātherīgāthā

9p_19Th2_18"Saddhāya pabbajitvāna,
bhadre bhadraratā bhava;
Bhāvehi kusale dhamme,
yogakkhemamanuttaran"ti.

Upasamātherīgāthā

10p_19Th2_20"Upasame tare oghaṁ,
maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ;
Dhārehi antimaṁ dehaṁ,
jetvā māraṁ savāhinin"ti.

Muttātherīgāthā

11p_19Th2_22"Sumuttā sādhumuttāmhi,
tīhi khujjehi muttiyā;
Udukkhalena musalena,
patinā khujjakena ca;
Muttāmhi jātimaraṇā,
bhavanetti samūhatā"ti.

Dhammadinnātherīgāthā

12p_19Th2_24"Chandajātā avasāyī,
Manasā ca phuṭā siyā;
Kāmesu appaṭibaddhacittā,
Uddhaṁsotāti vuccatī"ti.

Visākhātherīgāthā

13p_19Th2_26"Karotha buddhasāsanaṁ,
yaṁ katvā nānutappati;
Khippaṁ pādāni dhovitvā,
ekamante nisīdathā"ti.

Sumanātherīgāthā

14p_19Th2_28"Dhātuyo dukkhato disvā,
mā jātiṁ punarāgami;
Bhave chandaṁ virājetvā,
upasantā carissasī"ti.

Uttarātherīgāthā

15 p_19Th2_30"Kāyena saṁvutā āsiṁ,
vācāya uda cetasā;
Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,
sītibhūtāmhi nibbutā"ti.

Vuḍḍhapabbajitasumanātherīgāthā

16p_19Th2_32"Sukhaṁ tvaṁ vuḍḍhike sehi,
katvā coḷena pārutā;
Upasanto hi te rāgo,
sītibhūtāsi nibbutā"ti.

Dhammātherīgāthā

17p_19Th2_34"Piṇḍapātaṁ caritvāna,
daṇḍamolubbha dubbalā;
Vedhamānehi gattehi,
tattheva nipatiṁ chamā;
Disvā ādīnavaṁ kāye,
atha cittaṁ vimucci me"ti.

Saṇghātherīgāthā

18p_19Th2_36"Hitvā ghare pabbajitvā,
hitvā puttaṁ pasuṁ piyaṁ;
Hitvā rāgañca dosañca,
avijjañca virājiya;
Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,
upasantāmhi nibbutā"ti.