Theravadan

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From: Ayya Soma , Bhikkhu Sujato

Therīgāthā 13.2 Verses of the Elder Bhikkhunīs Verses of the Senior Nuns 13.2

Vīsatinipāta Chapter of the Twenties The Book of the Twenties

Rohinītherīgāthā Verses of the Elder Rohinī Rohinī

“‘Samaṇā’ti bhoti supi, “You fall asleep talking about ‘contemplatives’, “You fell asleep saying ‘ascetics’;

‘samaṇā’ti pabujjhasi; you wake up talking about ‘contemplatives’, you woke up saying ‘ascetics’;

Samaṇāneva kittesi, you only praise contemplatives, you only praise ascetics, madam—

samaṇī nūna bhavissasi. surely you will become a contemplative. surely you’ll become an ascetic.

Vipulaṁ annañca pānañca, Abundant food and drink You provide ascetics

samaṇānaṁ paveccasi; you offer to contemplatives. with abundant food and drink.

Rohinī dāni pucchāmi, Rohinī, now I ask: I ask you now, Rohiṇī:

kena te samaṇā piyā. what is so dear to you about contemplatives? why do you like ascetics?

Akammakāmā alasā, They’re idle and lazy, They don’t like to work, they’re lazy,

paradattūpajīvino; living on what is given by others, they live on charity;

Āsaṁsukā sādukāmā, longing for sweet sensual pleasures, always on the lookout, greedy for sweets—

kena te samaṇā piyā”. what is so dear to you about contemplatives?” so why do you like ascetics?”

“Cirassaṁ vata maṁ tāta, “For a very long time indeed, father, “Dad, for a long time now

samaṇānaṁ paripucchasi; you have asked me about contemplatives. you’ve questioned me about ascetics.

Tesaṁ te kittayissāmi, For you, I will speak in praise of their I shall extol for you

paññāsīlaparakkamaṁ. wisdom, morality, and commitment. their wisdom, ethics, and vigor.

Kammakāmā analasā, Industrious, not lazy, They like to work, they’re not lazy;

kammaseṭṭhassa kārakā; doers of the best deeds, by giving up greed and hate,

Rāgaṁ dosaṁ pajahanti, they give up passion and aversion—they do the best kind of work—

tena me samaṇā piyā. because of this, contemplatives are dear to me. that’s why I like ascetics.

Tīṇi pāpassa mūlāni, The three roots of evil As for the three roots of evil,

dhunanti sucikārino; they shake off, the ones whose actions are pure, by pure deeds they shake them off.

Sabbaṁ pāpaṁ pahīnesaṁ, who have abandoned all evil—They have given up all wickedness—

tena me samaṇā piyā. because of this, contemplatives are dear to me. that’s why I like ascetics.

Kāyakammaṁ suci nesaṁ, They do pure bodily actions, Their bodily actions are pure;

vacīkammañca tādisaṁ; as well as verbal actions, their actions of speech likewise;

Manokammaṁ suci nesaṁ, and pure mental actions—their actions of mind are pure—

tena me samaṇā piyā. because of this, contemplatives are dear to me. that’s why I like ascetics.

Vimalā saṅkhamuttāva, Spotless as a pearl, Immaculate as a conch-shell,

suddhā santarabāhirā; they are pure internally and externally, they’re pure inside and out,

Puṇṇā sukkāna dhammānaṁ, and full of bright qualities—full of bright qualities—

tena me samaṇā piyā. because of this, contemplatives are dear to me. that’s why I like ascetics.

Bahussutā dhammadharā, Very learned, knowing the Dhamma by heart, They’re learned and memorize the teaching,

ariyā dhammajīvino; Noble Ones, living a life of Dhamma, noble, living righteously,

Atthaṁ dhammañca desenti, they expound the meaning of the Dhamma—teaching the text and its meaning:

tena me samaṇā piyā. because of this, contemplatives are dear to me. that’s why I like ascetics.

Bahussutā dhammadharā, Very learned, knowing the Dhamma by heart, They’re learned and memorize the teaching,

ariyā dhammajīvino; Noble Ones, living a life of Dhamma, noble, living righteously,

Ekaggacittā satimanto, mindful, with one-pointed minds—unified in mind, and mindful—

tena me samaṇā piyā. because of this, contemplatives are dear to me. that’s why I like ascetics.

Dūraṅgamā satimanto, Going afar, mindful, Traveling afar, and mindful,

mantabhāṇī anuddhatā; giving counsel without conceit, thoughtful in counsel, not restless,

Dukkhassantaṁ pajānanti, they clearly know the end of suffering—they understand the end of suffering—

tena me samaṇā piyā. because of this, contemplatives are dear to me. that’s why I like ascetics.

Yasmā gāmā pakkamanti, From whichever village they set out, When they leave a village,

na vilokenti kiñcanaṁ; they never look back, they don’t look back with longing,

Anapekkhāva gacchanti, they wander without longing—but proceed without concern—

tena me samaṇā piyā. because of this, contemplatives are dear to me. that’s why I like ascetics.

Na te saṁ koṭṭhe openti, They do not deposit things in storerooms, They hoard no goods in storerooms,

na kumbhiṁ na khaḷopiyaṁ; nor do they have pots and pans, nor in pots or baskets.

Pariniṭṭhitamesānā, seeking complete perfection—They seek food prepared by others—

tena me samaṇā piyā. because of this, contemplatives are dear to me. that’s why I like ascetics.

Na te hiraññaṁ gaṇhanti, They do not take up gold, They don’t receive gold coins,

na suvaṇṇaṁ na rūpiyaṁ; silver or money, or gold or silver;

Paccuppannena yāpenti, they are nourished by the present moment—feeding on whatever comes that day,

tena me samaṇā piyā. because of this, contemplatives are dear to me. that’s why I like ascetics.

Nānākulā pabbajitā, Monastics from different clans, They have gone forth from different families,

nānājanapadehi ca; and from different provinces, even different countries,

Aññamaññaṁ piyāyanti, they hold each other dear—and yet they all love one another—

tena me samaṇā piyā”. because of this, contemplatives are dear to me.” that’s why I like ascetics.”

“Atthāya vata no bhoti, “It surely was for our benefit “Dear Rohinī, it was truly for our benefit

kule jātāsi rohinī; that you were born in this clan, Rohinī. that you were born in our family!

Saddhā buddhe ca dhamme ca, Very devout, and with faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma, You have faith and such keen respect

saṅghe ca tibbagāravā. and the Sangha. for the Buddha, his teaching, and the Sangha.

Tuvaṁ hetaṁ pajānāsi, You clearly know this For you understand this

puññakkhettaṁ anuttaraṁ; incomparable field of merit. supreme field of merit.

Amhampi ete samaṇā, These contemplatives These ascetics will henceforth

paṭigaṇhanti dakkhiṇaṁ. will receive donations from us as well. receive our religious donation, too.

Patiṭṭhito hettha yañño, Charity will be established here by us, For there we will place our sacrifice,

vipulo no bhavissati”; and it will be abundant.” and it shall be abundant.”

“Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa, “If you are afraid of suffering, “If you fear suffering,

sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ. if you dislike suffering, if you don’t like suffering,

Upehi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ, go for refuge to the Buddha, go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,

dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ; Dhamma, and Sangha. to his teaching and to the Sangha.

Samādiyāhi sīlāni, Take up the moral practices, Undertake the precepts,

taṁ te atthāya hehiti”. for your own sake.” that will be good for you.”

“Upemi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ, “I go for refuge to the Buddha, “I go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,

dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ; Dhamma, and Sangha. to his teaching and to the Sangha.

Samādiyāmi sīlāni, Having taken up the moral practices, I undertake the precepts,

taṁ me atthāya hehiti. it will be for my sake.” that will be good for me.

Brahmabandhu pure āsiṁ, “Before I was a kinsman of Brahmā, I used to be brahmin by kin,

so idānimhi brāhmaṇo; now I am a brahmin. now I genuinely am a brahmin.

Tevijjo sottiyo camhi, Possessing the three knowledges, I am one who has attained the highest knowledge, Master of the three knowledges, I’m a scholar,

vedagū camhi nhātako”. I am one who has bathed.” a knowledge master, a bathed initiate.”

… Rohinī therī …. The Elder Rohinī