sutta » kn » thig » Therīgāthā 5.11

Tiṁsamattātherīgāthā

Thirty Nuns Verses of the Thirty Elders

“Musalāni gahetvāna,
“Taking a pestle,
“With a pestle,

dhaññaṁ koṭṭenti māṇavā;
young men pound grain.
young men pound grain.

Puttadārāni posentā,
Providing for partners and children,
As they nourish wife and children,

dhanaṁ vindanti māṇavā.
young men acquire wealth.
young men prosper.

Karotha buddhasāsanaṁ,
Do the Buddha’s bidding,
Do what the Buddha taught,

yaṁ katvā nānutappati;
you won’t regret it.
and you will have no regrets.

Khippaṁ pādāni dhovitvā,
Having quickly washed your feet,
Quickly wash your feet,

ekamante nisīdatha;
sit in a discreet place to meditate.
and sit down on one side.

Cetosamathamanuyuttā,
Devoted to serenity of heart,
Commit to tranquility of mind—

karotha buddhasāsanaṁ”.
do the Buddha’s bidding.”
do what the Buddha taught.”

Tassā tā vacanaṁ sutvā,
After hearing her words,
Upon hearing these words,

paṭācārāya sāsanaṁ;
the instructions of Paṭācārā,
the teaching of Paṭācārā,

Pāde pakkhālayitvāna,
they washed their feet
they washed their feet

ekamantaṁ upāvisuṁ;
and retired to a discreet place.
and sat down to one side.

Cetosamathamanuyuttā,
Devoted to serenity of heart,
Committing to tranquility of mind,

akaṁsu buddhasāsanaṁ.
they did the Buddha’s bidding.
they followed the teachings of the Buddha.

Rattiyā purime yāme,
In the first watch of the night,
In the first watch of the night,

pubbajātimanussaruṁ;
they recollected their past lives.
they remembered their previous lives.

Rattiyā majjhime yāme,
In the middle watch of the night,
In the second watch of the night,

dibbacakkhuṁ visodhayuṁ;
they purified their clairvoyance.
they purified the divine eye.

Rattiyā pacchime yāme,
In the last watch of the night,
In the third watch of the night,

tamokhandhaṁ padālayuṁ.
they shattered the mass of darkness.
they destroyed this mass of darkness.

Uṭṭhāya pāde vandiṁsu,
They rose and paid homage at her feet:
They stood up and paid homage at her feet:

“katā te anusāsanī;
“We have done your bidding;
“We did as you instructed.

Indaṁva devā tidasā,
we shall abide honoring you,
We now possess the three knowledges and are free from influences,

saṅgāme aparājitaṁ;
as the thirty gods honor Indra,
and will dwell revering you

Purakkhatvā vihassāma,
undefeated in battle.
just as the thirty Devas honor Indra,

tevijjāmha anāsavā”ti.
Masters of the three knowledges, <j>we are free of defilements.”
unconquered in battle.”

Itthaṁ sudaṁ tiṁsamattā therī bhikkhuniyo paṭācārāya santike aññaṁ byākariṁsūti.
That is how thirty senior nuns declared their enlightenment in the presence of Paṭācārā.
In this way Thirty Elder Bhikkhunīs attained perfect knowledge in the presence of Paṭācārā.