sutta » kn » thig » Therīgāthā 5.3

Sīhātherīgāthā

Sīhā Verses of the Elder Sīhā

“Ayoniso manasikārā,
Due to irrational application of mind,
“Not applying the mind to see the origin of things,

kāmarāgena aṭṭitā;
I was racked by desire for pleasures of the senses.
I was afflicted with longing to gratify the senses.

Ahosiṁ uddhatā pubbe,
I was restless in the past,
I was restless,

citte avasavattinī.
lacking control over my mind.
and I had no power over the mind.

Pariyuṭṭhitā klesehi,
Overcome by corruptions,
Overwhelmed by defilements,

subhasaññānuvattinī;
pursuing perceptions of the beautiful,
I chased anything attractive.

Samaṁ cittassa na labhiṁ,
I gained no peace of mind.
Controlled by craving,

rāgacittavasānugā.
Under the sway of lustful thoughts,
I could not attain tranquility of mind.

Kisā paṇḍu vivaṇṇā ca,
thin, pale, and wan,
Emaciated, ugly, feeble,

satta vassāni cārihaṁ;
for seven years I wandered,
I wandered for seven years,

Nāhaṁ divā vā rattiṁ vā,
full of pain,
never finding happiness by day or by night,

sukhaṁ vindiṁ sudukkhitā.
finding no happiness by day or night.
full of suffering.

Tato rajjuṁ gahetvāna,
Taking a rope
Then I took a rope

pāvisiṁ vanamantaraṁ;
I entered deep into the forest, thinking:
and entered into the forest.

Varaṁ me idha ubbandhaṁ,
“It’s better that I hang myself
Better for me to be strangled here

yañca hīnaṁ punācare.
than I return to a lesser life.”
than to go back to the inferior life.

Daḷhapāsaṁ karitvāna,
I made a strong noose
I made a strong noose,

rukkhasākhāya bandhiya;
and tied it to the branch of a tree.
and hung it from the branch of a tree.

Pakkhipiṁ pāsaṁ gīvāyaṁ,
Casting it round my neck,
As soon as I placed the noose around my neck

atha cittaṁ vimucci me”ti.
my mind was freed.
my mind was liberated.”

… Sīhā therī ….
The Elder Sīhā