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Ambapālītherīgāthā

Ambapālī Verses of the Elder Ambapālī

“Kāḷakā bhamaravaṇṇasādisā,
My hair was as black as bees,
“Curly hair, black like the color of bees,

Vellitaggā mama muddhajā ahuṁ;
graced with curly tips;
sprang from this head of mine.

Te jarāya sāṇavākasādisā,
now old, it has become like hemp bark—
Because of old age it is now like hemp-bark—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Vāsitova surabhī karaṇḍako,
Crowned with flowers,
A fragrance like a sweet-scented chest full of flowers,

Pupphapūra mama uttamaṅgajo;
my head was as fragrant as a perfume box;
sprang from this head of mine.

Taṁ jarāyatha salomagandhikaṁ,
now old, it smells like dog fur—
Because of old age now it just smells like fur—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Kānanaṁva sahitaṁ suropitaṁ,
My hair was as thick as a well-planted forest,
Hair growing thick like a forest grove,

Kocchasūcivicitaggasobhitaṁ;
it shone, parted with brush and pins;
made resplendent, and gathered at the top with comb and hairpins.

Taṁ jarāya viralaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ,
now old, it’s patchy and sparse—
Because of old age, it is now thinning here and there—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Kaṇhakhandhakasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitaṁ,
With plaits of black and ribbons of gold,
Shining hair, adorned with plaits of black and gold,

Sobhate suveṇīhilaṅkataṁ;
it was so pretty, adorned with braids;
arranged in beautiful braids.

Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ siraṁ kataṁ,
now old, my head’s gone bald—
Because of old age my head has gone bald—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Cittakārasukatāva lekhikā,
My eyebrows used to look so nice,
My eyebrows were such a splendor,

Sobhare su bhamukā pure mama;
like crescents painted by an artist;
so well done, as if drawn by a painter.

Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā,
now old, they droop with wrinkles—
Because of old age they are sagging and wrinkly—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Bhassarā surucirā yathā maṇī,
My eyes shone brilliant as gems,
My large eyes were the best shade of blue,

Nettahesumabhinīlamāyatā;
wide and indigo;
as radiant and splendid as gemstones.

Te jarāyabhihatā na sobhare,
ruined by age, they shine no more—
Because of old age, they shine no more—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Saṇhatuṅgasadisī ca nāsikā,
My nose was like a perfect peak,
Smooth prominent incomparable nose,

Sobhate su abhiyobbanaṁ pati;
lovely in my bloom of youth;
shining at the peak of youth—

Sā jarāya upakūlitā viya,
now old, it’s shriveled like a pepper;
Because of old age it has withered,

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Kaṅkaṇaṁva sukataṁ suniṭṭhitaṁ,
My ear-lobes were so pretty,
My earlobes were such a splendor,

Sobhare su mama kaṇṇapāḷiyo;
like lovingly crafted bracelets;
like bracelets well made from start to finish.

Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā,
now old, they droop with wrinkles—
Because of old age they are sagging and wrinkly—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Pattalīmakulavaṇṇasādisā,
My teeth used to be so pretty,
The color of a jasmine bud,

Sobhare su dantā pure mama;
bright as a jasmine flower;
my teeth were so splendid.

Te jarāya khaṇḍitā cāsitā,
now old, they’re broken and yellow—
Because of old age they are broken and blackened—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Kānanamhi vanasaṇḍacārinī,
My singing was sweet as a cuckoo
I had a sweet hum like a cuckoo,

Kokilāva madhuraṁ nikūjihaṁ;
wandering in the forest groves;
chirping in the forests and jungles.

Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ,
now old, it’s patchy and croaking—
Because of old age it falters at times—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Saṇhakamburiva suppamajjitā,
My neck used to be so pretty,
My neck looked beautiful in the past,

Sobhate su gīvā pure mama;
like a polished shell of conch;
as smooth as a well polished conch-shell.

Sā jarāya bhaggā vināmitā,
now old, it’s bowed and bent—
Because of old age it is twisted and broken—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Vaṭṭapalighasadisopamā ubho,
My arms used to be so pretty,
My arms were of such splendor,

Sobhare su bāhā pure mama;
like rounded cross-bars;
both similar to round crossbars.

Tā jarāya yatha pāṭalibbalitā,
with age, they wrinkle and sag as a patala tree—
Because of old age they are now like withered branches—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Saṇhamuddikasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā,
My hands used to be so pretty,
My hands were of such splendor,

Sobhare su hatthā pure mama;
adorned with lovely golden rings;
smooth and adorned with gold rings.

Te jarāya yathā mūlamūlikā,
now old, they’re like red radishes—
Because of old age they are now like gnarled roots—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Pīnavaṭṭasahituggatā ubho,
My breasts used to be so pretty,
My little breasts were of such splendor,

Sobhare su thanakā pure mama;
swelling, round, close, and high;
plump, round, close together, and perky.

Thevikīva lambanti nodakā,
now they droop like water bags—
Like drops of water they now droop—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Kañcanassa phalakaṁva sammaṭṭhaṁ,
My body used to be so pretty,
My body was of such splendor,

Sobhate su kāyo pure mama;
like a polished slab of lustrous gold;
smooth like a golden panel.

So valīhi sukhumāhi otato,
now it’s covered with fine wrinkles—
Now it’s covered with fine wrinkles—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Nāgabhogasadisopamā ubho,
Both my thighs used to be so pretty,
My thighs were of such splendor,

Sobhare su ūrū pure mama;
like an elephant’s trunk;
both like the torso of a snake.

Te jarāya yathā veḷunāḷiyo,
now old, they’re like bamboo—
Because of old age they are now like stalks of bamboo—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Saṇhanūpurasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā,
My calves used to be so pretty,
My calves were of such splendor,

Sobhare su jaṅghā pure mama;
adorned with cute golden anklets;
adorned with exquisite gold anklets.

Tā jarāya tiladaṇḍakāriva,
now old, they’re like sesame sticks—
Because of old age they are now like sesame twigs—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Tūlapuṇṇasadisopamā ubho,
Both my feet used to be so pretty,
My feet were of such splendor,

Sobhare su pādā pure mama;
plump as if with cotton-wool;
as soft as tufts of cotton.

Te jarāya phuṭitā valīmatā,
now old, they’re cracked and wrinkly—
Because of old age they are wrinkled and cracked—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.

Ediso ahu ayaṁ samussayo,
This bag of bones once was such,
Such was this body,

Jajjaro bahudukkhānamālayo;
but now it’s withered, home to so much pain;
now decrepit, an abode of much suffering,

Sopalepapatito jarāgharo,
like a house in decay with plaster crumbling—
a house of decrepitude fallen into disrepair—

Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā”.
the word of the truthful one is confirmed.
the truth-speaker’s words are never wrong.”

… Ambapālī therī ….
The Elder Ambapālī