sutta » kn » thig » Therīgāthā 5.12

Candātherīgāthā

Candā Verses of the Elder Candā

“Duggatāhaṁ pure āsiṁ,
I used to be in a sorry state.
“I was destitute,

vidhavā ca aputtikā;
As a childless widow,
a widow without children,

Vinā mittehi ñātīhi,
bereft of friends or relatives,
friends or relatives.

bhattacoḷassa nādhigaṁ.
I got neither food nor clothes.
Food and cloth were difficult to come by,

Pattaṁ daṇḍañca gaṇhitvā,
I took a bowl and a staff
so I would take a bowl and walking stick,

bhikkhamānā kulā kulaṁ;
and went begging from family to family.
and went begging from one family to another.

Sītuṇhena ca ḍayhantī,
For seven years I wandered,
I wandered for seven years,

satta vassāni cārihaṁ.
burned by heat and cold.
consumed by heat and cold.

Bhikkhuniṁ puna disvāna,
Then I saw a nun
When I saw a bhikkhunī

annapānassa lābhiniṁ;
receiving food and drink.
accepting food and drink,

Upasaṅkamma avocaṁ,
Approaching her, I said:
I approached her and said:

‘pabbajjaṁ anagāriyaṁ’.
“Send me forth to homelessness.”
‘I want to go forth into homelessness.’

Sā ca maṁ anukampāya,
Out of sympathy for me,
Out of compassion for me,

pabbājesi paṭācārā;
Paṭācārā gave me the going forth.
Paṭācārā allowed me to go forth.

Tato maṁ ovaditvāna,
Then, having advised me,
Then she exhorted me,

paramatthe niyojayi.
she urged me on to the ultimate goal.
and spurred me on to the highest aim.

Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā,
After hearing her words,
I heard and

akāsiṁ anusāsaniṁ;
I did her bidding.
followed her instruction.

Amogho ayyāyovādo,
The lady’s advice was not in vain:
Ayya’s guidance was not in vain:

tevijjāmhi anāsavā”ti.
master of the three knowledges, <j>I am free of defilements.
possessing the three knowledges, I am free from influences.”

… Candā therī ….
… The Elder Candā

Pañcakanipāto niṭṭhito.
The Chapter of the Fives is finished.