Therigatha - The Verses of the Elder Nuns
Chapter 14: The Book of the Thirties
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato and Jessica Walton. (More copyright information)
Subhā of Jīvaka’s Mango Grove
368
Going to the lovely mango grove
of Jīvaka, the nun Subhā
was held up by a rascal.
Subhā said this to him:
369
“What harm have I done to you,
that you stand in my way?
Sir, it’s not proper that a man
should touch a woman gone forth.
370
This training was taught by the Holy One,
it is a serious matter in my teacher’s instructions.
I am pure and rid of blemishes,
so why do you stand in my way?
371
One whose mind is sullied against one unsullied;
one who is lustful against one free of lust;
unblemished, my heart is freed in every respect,
so why do you stand in my way?”
372
“You’re young and flawless—
what will going-forth do for you?
Throw away the ocher robe,
come and play in the blossom grove.
373
Everywhere, the scent of pollen wafts sweet,
born of the flowering woods.
The start of spring is a happy time—
come and play in the blossom grove.
374
And trees crested with flowers
cry out, as it were, in the breeze.
But what kind of fun will you have
if you plunge into the woods all alone?
375
Frequented by packs of predators,
and she-elephants aroused by rutting bulls;
you wish to go without a friend
to the deserted, awe-inspiring forest.
376
Like a shining doll of gold,
like a nymph wandering in a park of colorful vines,
your matchless beauty will shine
in graceful clothes of exquisite muslin.
377
I’ll be under your sway,
if we are to stay in the forest.
I love no creature more than you,
O pixie with such bashful eyes.
378
Were you to take up my invitation—
‘Come, be happy, and live in a house’—
you’ll stay in a longhouse sheltered from wind;
let the ladies look to your needs.
379
Dressed in exquisite muslin,
put on your garlands and your cosmetics.
I’ll make all sorts of adornments for you,
of gold and gems and pearls.
380
Climb onto a costly bed,
its coverlet so clean and nice,
with a new woolen mattress,
so fragrant, sprinkled with sandalwood.
381
As a blue lily risen from the water
remains untouched by men,
so too, O chaste and holy lady,
your limbs grow old unshared.”
382
“This carcass is full of putrefaction, it swells
the charnel ground, for its nature is to fall apart.
What do you think is so essential in it
that you stare at me so crazily?”
383
“Your eyes are like those of a doe,
or a pixie in the mountains;
seeing them,
my sensual desire grows all the more.
384
Set in your flawless face of golden sheen,
your eyes compare to a blue lily’s bud;
seeing them,
my sensual excitement grows all the more.
385
Though you may wander far, I’ll still think of you,
with your lashes so long, and your vision so clear.
I love no eyes more than yours,
O pixie with such bashful eyes.”
386
“You’re setting out on the wrong road!
You’re looking to take the moon for your toy!
You’re trying to leap over Mount Meru!
You, who are hunting a child of the Buddha!
387
For in this world with all its gods,
there will be no more lust anywhere in me.
I don’t even know what kind it could be,
it’s been smashed root and all by the path.
388
Cast out like sparks from fiery coals,
it’s worth no more than a bowl of poison.
I don’t even see what kind it could be,
it’s been smashed root and all by the path.
389
Well may you try to seduce the type of lady
who has not reflected on these things,
or who has never attended the Teacher:
but this is a lady who knows—now you’re in trouble!
390
No matter if I am reviled or praised,
or feel pleasure or pain: I stay mindful.
Knowing that conditions are ugly,
my mind clings to nothing.
391
I am a disciple of the Holy One,
riding in the carriage of the eightfold path.
The dart pulled out, free of defilements,
I’m happy to have reached an empty place.
392
I’ve seen brightly painted
dolls and wooden puppets,
tied to sticks and strings,
and made to dance in many ways.
393
But when the sticks and strings are taken off—
loosed, disassembled, dismantled,
irrecoverable, stripped to parts—
on what could the mind be fixed?
394
That’s what my body is really like,
without those things it can’t go on.
This being so,
on what could the mind be fixed?
395
It’s like when you see a mural on a wall,
painted with orpiment,
and your vision gets confused,
falsely perceiving that it is a person.
396
Though it’s as worthless as a magic trick,
or a golden tree seen in a dream,
you blindly chase what is hollow,
like a puppet show among the people.
397
An eye is just a ball in a socket,
with a pupil in the middle, and tears,
and mucus comes from there as well,
and so different eye-parts are lumped all together.”
398
The pretty lady ripped out her eye.
With no attachment in her mind at all, she said:
“Come now, take this eye,”
and gave it to the man right then.
399
And at that moment he lost his lust,
and asked for her forgiveness:
“May you be well, O chaste and holy lady;
such a thing will not happen again.
400
Attacking a person such as this
is like holding on to a blazing fire,
or grabbing a deadly viper!
May you be well, please forgive me.”
401
When that nun was released
she went to the presence of the excellent Buddha.
Seeing the one with excellent marks of merit,
her eye became just as it was before.
Subhājīvakambavanikātherīgāthā
368p_19Th2_452Jīvakambavanaṁ rammaṁ,
Gacchantiṁ bhikkhuniṁ subhaṁ;
Dhuttako sannivāresi,
Tamenaṁ abravī subhā.
369p_19Th2_453"Kiṁ te aparādhitaṁ mayā,
Yaṁ maṁ ovariyāna tiṭṭhasi;
Na hi pabbajitāya āvuso,
Puriso samphusanāya kappati.
370
p_19Th2_454Garuke mama satthusāsane,
Yā sikkhā sugatena desitā;
Parisuddhapadaṁ anaṅgaṇaṁ,
Kiṁ maṁ ovariyāna tiṭṭhasi.
371p_19Th2_455Āvilacitto anāvilaṁ,
Sarajo vītarajaṁ anaṅgaṇaṁ;
Sabbattha vimuttamānasaṁ,
Kiṁ maṁ ovariyāna tiṭṭhasi".
372p_19Th2_456"Daharā ca apāpikā casi,
Kiṁ te pabbajjā karissati;
Nikkhipa kāsāyacīvaraṁ,
Ehi ramāma supupphite vane.
373p_19Th2_457Madhurañca pavanti sabbaso,
Kusumarajena samuṭṭhitā dumā;
Paṭhamavasanto sukho utu,
Ehi ramāma supupphite vane.
374p_19Th2_458Kusumitasikharā ca pādapā,
Abhigajjantiva māluteritā;
Kā tuyhaṁ rati bhavissati,
Yadi ekā vanamogahissasi.
375p_19Th2_459Vāḷamigasaṅghasevitaṁ,
Kuñjaramattakareṇuloḷitaṁ;
Asahāyikā gantumicchasi,
Rahitaṁ bhiṁsanakaṁ mahāvanaṁ.
376p_19Th2_460Tapanīyakatāva dhītikā,
Vicarasi cittalateva accharā;
Kāsikasukhumehi vaggubhi,
Sobhasī suvasanehi nūpame.
377p_19Th2_461Ahaṁ tava vasānugo siyaṁ,
Yadi viharemase kānanantare;
Na hi matthi tayā piyattaro,
Pāṇo kinnarimandalocane.
378p_19Th2_462Yadi me vacanaṁ karissasi,
Sukhitā ehi agāramāvasa;
Pāsādanivātavāsinī,
Parikammaṁ te karontu nāriyo.
379
p_19Th2_463Kāsikasukhumāni dhāraya,
Abhiropehi ca mālavaṇṇakaṁ;
Kañcanamaṇimuttakaṁ bahuṁ,
Vividhaṁ ābharaṇaṁ karomi te.
380p_19Th2_464Sudhotarajapacchadaṁ subhaṁ,
Gonakatūlikasanthataṁ navaṁ;
Abhiruha sayanaṁ mahārahaṁ,
Candanamaṇḍitasāragandhikaṁ.
381p_19Th2_465Uppalaṁ cudakā samuggataṁ,
Yathā taṁ amanussasevitaṁ;
Evaṁ tvaṁ brahmacārinī,
Sakesaṅgesu jaraṁ gamissasi".
382p_19Th2_466"Kiṁ te idha sārasammataṁ,
Kuṇapapūramhi susānavaḍḍhane;
Bhedanadhamme kaḷevare,
Yaṁ disvā vimano udikkhasi".
383p_19Th2_467"Akkhīni ca tūriyāriva,
Kinnariyāriva pabbatantare;
Tava me nayanāni dakkhiya,
Bhiyyo kāmaratī pavaḍḍhati.
384p_19Th2_468Uppalasikharopamāni te,
Vimale hāṭakasannibhe mukhe;
Tava me nayanāni dakkhiya,
Bhiyyo kāmaguṇo pavaḍḍhati.
385p_19Th2_469Api dūragatā saramhase,
Āyatapamhe visuddhadassane;
Na hi matthi tayā piyattaro,
Nayanā kinnarimandalocane".
386p_19Th2_470"Apathena payātumicchasi,
Candaṁ kīḷanakaṁ gavesasi;
Meruṁ laṅghetumicchasi,
Yo tvaṁ buddhasutaṁ maggayasi.
387
p_19Th2_471Natthi hi loke sadevake,
Rāgo yatthapi dāni me siyā;
Napi naṁ jānāmi kīriso,
Atha maggena hato samūlako.
388p_19Th2_472Iṅgālakuyāva ujjhito,
Visapattoriva aggito kato;
Napi naṁ passāmi kīriso,
Atha maggena hato samūlako.
389p_19Th2_473Yassā siyā apaccavekkhitaṁ,
Satthā vā anupāsito siyā;
Tvaṁ tādisikaṁ palobhaya,
Jānantiṁ so imaṁ vihaññasi.
390p_19Th2_474Mayhañhi akkuṭṭhavandite,
Sukhadukkhe ca satī upaṭṭhitā;
Saṅkhatamasubhanti jāniya,
Sabbattheva mano na limpati.
391p_19Th2_475Sāhaṁ sugatassa sāvikā,
Maggaṭṭhaṅgikayānayāyinī;
Uddhaṭasallā anāsavā,
Suññāgāragatā ramāmahaṁ.
392p_19Th2_476Diṭṭhā hi mayā sucittitā,
Sombhā dārukapillakāni vā;
Tantīhi ca khīlakehi ca,
Vinibaddhā vividhaṁ panaccakā.
393p_19Th2_477Tamhuddhaṭe tantikhīlake,
Vissaṭṭhe vikale parikrite;
Na vindeyya khaṇḍaso kate,
Kimhi tattha manaṁ nivesaye.
394p_19Th2_478Tathūpamā dehakāni maṁ,
Tehi dhammehi vinā na vattanti;
Dhammehi vinā na vattati,
Kimhi tattha manaṁ nivesaye.
395
p_19Th2_479Yathā haritālena makkhitaṁ,
Addasa cittikaṁ bhittiyā kataṁ;
Tamhi te viparītadassanaṁ,
Saññā mānusikā niratthikā.
396p_19Th2_480Māyaṁ viya aggato kataṁ,
Supinanteva suvaṇṇapādapaṁ;
Upagacchasi andha rittakaṁ,
Janamajjheriva rupparūpakaṁ.
397p_19Th2_481Vaṭṭaniriva koṭarohitā,
Majjhe pubbuḷakā saassukā;
Pīḷakoḷikā cettha jāyati,
Vividhā cakkhuvidhā ca piṇḍitā".
398p_19Th2_482Uppāṭiya cārudassanā,
Na ca pajjittha asaṅgamānasā;
"Handa te cakkhuṁ harassu taṁ",
Tassa narassa adāsi tāvade.
399p_19Th2_483Tassa ca viramāsi tāvade,
Rāgo tattha khamāpayī ca naṁ;
"Sotthi siyā brahmacārinī,
Na puno edisakaṁ bhavissati".
400p_19Th2_484"Āsādiya edisaṁ janaṁ,
Aggiṁ pajjalitaṁva liṅgiya;
Gaṇhiya āsīvisaṁ viya,
Api nu sotthi siyā khamehi no".
401p_19Th2_485Muttā ca tato sā bhikkhunī,
Agamī buddhavarassa santikaṁ;
Passiya varapuññalakkhaṇaṁ,
Cakkhu āsi yathā purāṇakanti.