Archives: Theris

“Puttasokenahaṁ aṭṭā,
khittacittā visaññinī;
Naggā pakiṇṇakesī ca,
tena tena vicārihaṁ.

Tormented by the loss of my child
deranged demented
Nude, hair matted
I wandered aimlessly.

Vīthi saṅkārakūṭesu,
susāne rathiyāsu ca;
Acariṁ tīṇi vassāni,
khuppipāsāsamappitā.

Resting in trash piles,
cemeteries and roadways;
Like this for three long years.
Hungry. Thirsty.

Athaddasāsiṁ sugataṁ,
nagaraṁ mithilaṁ pati;
Adantānaṁ dametāraṁ,
sambuddhamakutobhayaṁ.

Then I saw him, the Blessed One,
near the city of Mithilā,
The Awakened One, tamer of the feral heart;
Fearless.

Sacittaṁ paṭiladdhāna,
vanditvāna upāvisiṁ;
So me dhammamadesesi,
anukampāya gotamo.

Regaining my senses
I paid homage and sat near.
In compassion, Gotama himself
taught me the Dhamma.

Tassa dhammaṁ suṇitvāna,
pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ;
Yuñjantī satthuvacane,
sacchākāsiṁ padaṁ sivaṁ.

On hearing his teaching
I went forth as a nun.
Striving with his teaching
I realized the blessed state.

Sabbe sokā samucchinnā,
pahīnā etadantikā;
Pariññātā hi me vatthū,
yato sokāna sambhavo”ti.

All grief is cut off – eliminated.
Done.
Because I fully comprehended
where it came from.

“Daharā tvaṃ rūpavatī,
ahampi daharo yuvā;
Pañcaṅgikena turiyena,
ehi kheme ramāmase”.

139. “You’re young and so beautiful,
and I’m a young man
Come, Kemā, let’s enjoy music –
our five senses the instruments!”

“Iminā pūtikāyena,
āturena pabhaṅgunā;
Aṭṭiyāmi harāyāmi,
kāmataṇhā samūhatā.

140. This putrid body!
Miserable, flimsy! 
I’m done with it, I’m irritated by it! 
Desire for sense pleasure is eliminated.

Sattisūlūpamā kāmā,
khandhāsaṃ adhikuṭṭanā;
Yaṃ ‘tvaṃ kāmaratiṃ’ brūsi,
‘aratī’ dāni sā mama.

141. Sensual pleasures are like swords and spears,
The mind and body* [receive the blows] like a chopping block;
Though called delightful,
sensual pleasures no longer delight me.

Sabbattha vihatā nandī,
tamokhandho padālito;
Evaṃ jānāhi pāpima,
nihato tvamasi antaka.

142. Enjoyment killed at every level,
the mass of darkness destroyed;
You see, evil doer,
you’re defeated, death-maker.

Nakkhattāni namassantā,
aggiṃ paricaraṃ vane;
Yathābhuccamajānantā,
bālā suddhimamaññatha.

143. Revering the constellations,
tending the [brahmanical ritual] fire in the woods,
Missing ultimate truth;
this is “purification” to fools.¹They wrongly consider this to be purification of the mind

Ahañca kho namassantī,
sambuddhaṃ purisuttamaṃ;
Pamuttā sabbadukkhehi,
satthusāsanakārikā”ti.”

144. Now I revere the best of beings,
the Awakened One;
Having done what he taught,
I am free from all suffering.”

Link to translation for teenagers

“Alaṅkatā suvasanā,
mālinī candanokkhitā;
Sabbābharaṇasañchannā,
dāsīgaṇapurakkhatā.

Looking glamorous, decked out in my finest,
Donning garlands of flowers, potent with sandalwood
Absolutely dripping with gold & jewels
And surrounded by my girls,

Annaṁ pānañca ādāya,
khajjaṁ bhojjaṃ anappakaṁ;
Gehato nikkhamitvāna,
uyyānamabhihārayiṁ.

Bringing food & drinks
Everything – entrees to desserts – in abundance,
I took off from the house
Headed to the entertainment park.

Tattha ramitvā kīḷitvā,
āgacchantī sakaṁ gharaṁ;
Vihāraṁ daṭṭhuṁ pāvisiṁ,
sākete añjanaṁ vanaṁ.

Had a great time hanging out and playing
Then on the way home
Near Sāketa Town, in Añjana Woods,
I saw and felt drawn into a monastery.

Disvāna lokapajjotaṁ,
vanditvāna upāvisiṁ;
So me dhammamadesesi,
anukampāya cakkhumā.

Finding the light of the world,
I paid homage and sat to one side;
In compassion the one with penetrative vision
Taught me the Dhamma.

Sutvā ca kho mahesissa,
saccaṁ sampaṭivijjhahaṁ;
Tattheva virajaṁ dhammaṁ,
phusayiṁ amataṁ padaṁ.

On hearing the great holy man
I penetrated the truth
Right there – the pure Dhamma!
The deathless state touched.

Tato viññātasaddhammā,
pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ;
Tisso vijjā anuppattā,
amoghaṁ buddhasāsanan”ti.

Then knowing the true Dhamma
I went forth into homelessness.
Attained is the Triple Knowledge;
Effective is the Buddha’s teaching!

“Ucce kule ahaṁ jātā,
bahuvitte mahaddhane;
Vaṇṇarūpena sampannā,
dhītā majjhassa atrajā.

151. I came from a preeminent family
Prosperous and wealthy
Endowed with fine complexion and figure
Truly I was the daughter of Megha.

Patthitā rājaputtehi,
seṭṭhiputtehi gijjhitā;
Pitu me pesayī dūtaṁ,
detha mayhaṁ anopamaṁ.

152. Sons of kings sought me
Sons of millionaires craved me
One even messaged my father:
“Give me Anopamā!

Yattakaṁ tulitā esā,
tuyhaṁ dhītā anopamā;
Tato aṭṭhaguṇaṁ dassaṁ,
hiraññaṁ ratanāni ca.

153. However much she weighs –
Your daughter, the Incomparable –
Eight times that much I’ll give you
In raw gold and precious gems!”

Sāhaṁ disvāna sambuddhaṁ,
lokajeṭṭhaṁ anuttaraṁ;
Tassa pādāni vanditvā,
ekamantaṁ upāvisiṁ.

154. Yet I saw the Awakened One,
Foremost in the world, unsurpassed!
Having paid homage at his feet
I sat to one side.

So me dhammamadesesi,
anukampāya gotamo;
Nisinnā āsane tasmiṁ,
phusayiṁ tatiyaṁ phalaṁ.

155. He taught me the Dhamma –
Gotama himself – in compassion;
Sitting on that very seat
I reached the third fruit.¹stage of enlightenment

Tato kesāni chetvāna,
pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ;
Ajja me sattamī ratti,
yato taṇhā visositā”ti.

156. Cutting my hair
I went forth to homelessness;
This is the seventh day
Since my craving dried up.

“Buddha vīra namo tyatthu,
sabbasattānamuttama;
Yo maṁ dukkhā pamocesi,
aññañca bahukaṁ janaṁ.

157. Buddha, hero, homage to you!
Greatest of all beings –
Who released me from suffering
And many others as well.

Sabbadukkhaṁ pariññātaṁ,
Hetutaṇhā visositā;
Bhāvito aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo,
Nirodho phusito mayā.

158. All suffering: well understood!
Its cause – desire: dried up!
The eightfold path: developed!
Cessation: attained by me!

Mātā putto pitā bhātā,
ayyakā ca pure ahuṁ;
Yathābhuccamajānantī,
saṁsariṁhaṁ anibbisaṁ.

159. Mother son father brother
Grandma too – I’ve been them all;
I wandered on and on
Missing ultimate truth.

Diṭṭho hi me so bhagavā,
antimoyaṁ samussayo;
Vikkhīṇo jātisaṁsāro,
natthi dāni punabbhavo.

160. Then I saw him, the Exalted One
And this body is my last.
Rebirth-wandering abolished
Never again to become.

Āraddhavīriye pahitatte,
Niccaṁ daḷhaparakkame;
Samagge sāvake passe,
Esā buddhāna vandanā.

161. Energetic from the start and resolute,
Constantly making effort
And unified – see these disciples:
Now that’s homage to the Buddha!

Bahūnaṁ vata atthāya,
Māyā janayi gotamaṁ;
Byādhimaraṇatunnānaṁ,
Dukkhakkhandhaṁ byapānudī”ti.

162. For the welfare of the world
Māyā gave birth to Gotama;
For those stricken by sickness and death
He swept away the mass of suffering.

“Gutte yadatthaṁ pabbajjā,
hitvā puttaṁ vasuṁ piyaṁ;
Tameva anubrūhehi,
mā cittassa vasaṁ gami.

Guttā, the aspiration for which you went forth –
Giving up motherhood, wealth and all that you cherished –
Devote yourself to that.
Don’t let your mind take you for a ride. ¹ Literally “not take a journey of mind’s control”

Cittena vañcitā sattā,
mārassa visaye ratā;
Anekajātisaṁsāraṁ,
sandhāvanti aviddasū.

Deceived by the mind
Delighting in Māra’s stomping grounds,
Sentient beings journey through countless rebirths
Fools wander on.

Kāmacchandañca byāpādaṁ,
sakkāyadiṭṭhimeva ca;
Sīlabbataparāmāsaṁ,
vicikicchañca pañcamaṁ.

Sense desires, ill-will
And belief in a self
Rites & rituals wrongly clutched
And doubt as the fifth;

Saṁyojanāni etāni,
pajahitvāna bhikkhunī;
Orambhāgamanīyāni,
nayidaṁ punarehisi.

Having abandoned These fetters, Bhikkhunī,
Which lead downwards,
You’ll not return again.

Rāgaṁ mānaṁ avijjañca,
uddhaccañca vivajjiya;
Saṁyojanāni chetvāna,
dukkhassantaṁ karissasi.

Forsaking desire (for existence),
Conceit, ignorance and restlessness;
Having cut these (final) fetters
You’ll be done with suffering.

Khepetvā jātisaṁsāraṁ,
pariññāya punabbhavaṁ;
Diṭṭheva dhamme nicchātā,
upasantā carissatī”ti.

Finished with the cycle of rebirths
Fully understanding renewed existence
With a mind free from hunger ² Literally “Having, on-the-spot, seen hungerless dhammas”
You will go in peace.

“Catukkhattuṁ pañcakkhattuṁ,
vihārā upanikkhamiṁ;
Aladdhā cetaso santiṁ,
citte avasavattinī.

Four times, maybe five
I quit the monastery
Never gaining peace of heart
My mind out of control.

Bhikkhuniṁ upasaṅkamma,
sakkaccaṁ paripucchahaṁ;
Sā me dhammamadesesi,
dhātuāyatanāni ca.

Having approached a bhikkhuni
I respectfully interrogated her.
She pointed out to me the Dhamma –
(Four) elements, (six) sense bases

Cattāri ariyasaccāni,
indriyāni balāni ca;
Bojjhaṅgaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,
uttamatthassa pattiyā.

Four noble truths
(Five) faculties & powers
(Seven) enlightenment factors and eightfold path –
To attain the highest goal.

Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā,
karontī anusāsaniṁ;
Rattiyā purime yāme,
pubbajātimanussariṁ.

Having listened to her words
Doing her instruction…
In the first of the night:
Past-life recollection.

Rattiyā majjhime yāme,
dibbacakkhuṁ visodhayiṁ;
Rattiyā pacchime yāme,
tamokhandhaṁ padālayiṁ.

In the middle of the night:
Divine eye purified.
In the last of the night:
The mass of darkness destroyed.

Pītisukhena ca kāyaṁ,
Pharitvā vihariṁ tadā;
Sattamiyā pāde pasāresiṁ,
Tamokhandhaṁ padāliyā”ti.

Having pervaded this body with bliss and happiness
I then remained there;
On the seventh day I stretched my legs
Having destroyed the mass of darkness.

Chakkanipāto niṭṭhito.

The Book of the Sixes is finished.