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Mittākāḷītherīgāthā

Mittākāḷī Verses of the Elder Mittākāḷī

“Saddhāya pabbajitvāna,
Having gone forth in faith
“I went forth out of faith,

agārasmānagāriyaṁ;
from the lay life to homelessness,
from the home life into homelessness;

Vicariṁhaṁ tena tena,
I wandered here and there,
I wandered here and there,

lābhasakkāraussukā.
jealous of possessions and honors.
longing for gain and honor.

Riñcitvā paramaṁ atthaṁ,
Neglecting the highest goal,
Disregarding the highest aim,

hīnamatthaṁ asevihaṁ;
I pursued the lowest.
I pursued an inferior goal.

Kilesānaṁ vasaṁ gantvā,
Under the sway of corruptions,
Controlled by defilements,

sāmaññatthaṁ na bujjhihaṁ.
I never knew the goal of the ascetic life.
I did not understand the real purpose of the contemplative life.

Tassā me ahu saṁvego,
I was struck with a sense of urgency
While sitting in my hut,

nisinnāya vihārake;
as I was sitting in my hut:
I was struck with a sense of urgency:

Ummaggapaṭipannāmhi,
“I’m walking the wrong path,
‘I have entered upon the wrong path,

taṇhāya vasamāgatā.
under the sway of craving.
I am under the control of craving!

Appakaṁ jīvitaṁ mayhaṁ,
My life is short,
Decay and sickness are trampling

jarā byādhi ca maddati;
trampled by old age and sickness.
my trifling life.

Purāyaṁ bhijjati kāyo,
Before this body breaks apart,
There is no time to waste

na me kālo pamajjituṁ.
there is no time for me to be careless.”
before this body falls apart.’

Yathābhūtamavekkhantī,
I examined in line with the truth
In conformity with the truth, I observed

khandhānaṁ udayabbayaṁ;
the rise and fall of the aggregates.
the rise and fall of the khandhas.

Vimuttacittā uṭṭhāsiṁ,
I stood up with mind liberated,
I stood up with a liberated mind,

kataṁ buddhassa sāsanan”ti.
having fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.
having completed the teaching of the Buddha.”

… Mittā kāḷī therī ….
The Elder Mittākaḷī