sutta » kn » thig » Therīgāthā 15.1

Isidāsītherīgāthā

Verses of the Elder Isidāsī Isidāsī

Nagaramhi kusumanāme,
In a town with the name of a flower,
In Pāṭaliputta, the cream of the world,

Pāṭaliputtamhi pathaviyā maṇḍe;
Pāṭaliputta, the blest place on earth,
the city named for a flower,

Sakyakulakulīnāyo,
there were two virtuous bhikkhunīs
there were two nuns from the Sakyan clan,

Dve bhikkhuniyo hi guṇavatiyo.
from the Sakyan clan.
both of them ladies of quality.

Isidāsī tattha ekā,
The first one is Isidāsī, the second Bodhī,
One was named Isidāsī, the second Bodhī.

Dutiyā bodhīti sīlasampannā ca;
with perfect morality,
They both were accomplished in ethics,

Jhānajjhāyanaratāyo,
who enjoy practicing Jhāna,
lovers of meditation and chanting,

Bahussutāyo dhutakilesāyo.
very learned, with defilements removed.
learned, crushing corruptions.

Tā piṇḍāya caritvā,
After going for alms,
They wandered for alms and had their meal.

Bhattatthaṁ kariya dhotapattāyo;
eating their meal, and washing their bowls,
When they had washed their bowls,

Rahitamhi sukhanisinnā,
when they were comfortably seated alone,
they sat happily in a private place

Imā girā abbhudīresuṁ.
this is what they said:
and started a conversation.

“Pāsādikāsi ayye,
“Ayya Isidāsī is charming
“You’re so lovely, Venerable Isidāsī,

Isidāsi vayopi te aparihīno;
and has not aged one single bit.
your youth has not yet faded.

Kiṁ disvāna byālikaṁ,
What fault did you see in the world
What problem did you see that made you

Athāsi nekkhammamanuyuttā”.
that made you intent upon renunciation?”
dedicate your life to renunciation?”

Evamanuyuñjiyamānā sā,
When she was asked this question in confidence,
Being pressed like this in private,

Rahite dhammadesanākusalā;
the one skilled in teaching Dhamma,
Isidāsī, skilled in teaching Dhamma,

Isidāsī vacanamabravi,
Isidāsī, thus spoke:
voiced the following words.

“Suṇa bodhi yathāmhi pabbajitā”.
“Bodhi, listen to the story of my going forth.
“Bodhī, hear how I went forth.

“Ujjeniyā puravare,
In the excellent town of Ujjeniyā,
In the fine town of Ujjenī,

Mayhaṁ pitā sīlasaṁvuto seṭṭhi;
my father was a wealthy merchant with morality and restraint.
my father was a financier, a good and moral man.

Tassamhi ekadhītā,
I was the only daughter of his,
I was his only daughter,

Piyā manāpā ca dayitā ca.
dear, pleasant, and cherished.
dear, beloved, and cherished.

Atha me sāketato varakā,
Then men from the most notable families came to Sāketa
Then some suitors came for me

Āgacchumuttamakulīnā;
to ask for me to marry them.
from the top family of Sāketa.

Seṭṭhī pahūtaratano,
A wealthy merchant with many jewels,
They were sent by a financier abounding in wealth,

Tassa mamaṁ suṇhamadāsi tāto.
my father gave me as a daughter-in-law to one of them.
to whom my father then gave me as daughter-in-law.

Sassuyā sasurassa ca,
Morning and evening
Come morning and come night,

Sāyaṁ pātaṁ paṇāmamupagamma;
I bowed to both parents in-law,
I bowed with my head to the feet

Sirasā karomi pāde,
I paid respects as instructed,
of my father and mother-in-law,

Vandāmi yathāmhi anusiṭṭhā.
with my head at their feet.
just as I had been told.

Yā mayhaṁ sāmikassa,
If I saw any of these honorable people
Whenever I saw my husband’s sisters,

Bhaginiyo bhātuno parijano vā;
- a sister, brother,
his brothers, his servants,

Tamekavarakampi disvā,
or attendant of my husband -
or even he, my one and only,

Ubbiggā āsanaṁ demi.
I would anxiously give them a seat.
I nervously gave them a seat.

Annena ca pānena ca,
I arranged, properly covered,
Whatever they wanted—food and drink,

Khajjena ca yañca tattha sannihitaṁ;
and brought out food, drink,
treats, or whatever was in the cupboard—

Chādemi upanayāmi ca,
and other edibles,
I brought out and offered to them,

Demi ca yaṁ yassa patirūpaṁ.
and gave to them whatever was proper.
ensuring each got what was fitting.

Kālena upaṭṭhahitvā,
I would get ready at the right time,
Having risen bright and early,

Gharaṁ samupagamāmi ummāre;
go to the house’s foyer,
I approached the main house,

Dhovantī hatthapāde,
and after rinsing my hands and feet,
washed my hands and feet,

Pañjalikā sāmikamupemi.
I would draw near my husband in añjali.
and went to my husband with joined palms.

Kocchaṁ pasādaṁ añjaniñca,
With a brush, hair-tie,
Taking a comb, adornments,

Ādāsakañca gaṇhitvā;
ointment box, and a mirror,
eyeshadow, and a mirror,

Parikammakārikā viya,
like a personal attendant,
I myself did the makeup for my husband,

Sayameva patiṁ vibhūsemi.
I would beautify my own husband.
as if I were his beautician.

Sayameva odanaṁ sādhayāmi,
I prepared the rice myself,
I myself cooked the rice;

Sayameva bhājanaṁ dhovantī;
I washed the bowl myself,
I myself washed the pots.

Mātāva ekaputtakaṁ,
like a mother with her only son,
I looked after my husband

Tathā bhattāraṁ paricarāmi.
in the same way I looked after my husband.
like a mother her only child.

Evaṁ maṁ bhattikataṁ,
Thus in this way I offered service,
Thus I showed my devotion to him,

Anurattaṁ kārikaṁ nihatamānaṁ;
a faithful servant free of pride,
a loving, virtuous, and humble servant,

Uṭṭhāyikaṁ analasaṁ,
humble, energetic, and virtuous,
getting up early, and working tirelessly:

Sīlavatiṁ dussate bhattā.
yet the husband was angry at me.
yet still my husband did me wrong.

So mātarañca pitarañca,
To his mother and father,
He said to his mother and father:

Bhaṇati ‘āpucchahaṁ gamissāmi;
he said: ‘Unquestionably, I will go!
‘I’ll take my leave and go,

Isidāsiyā na saha vacchaṁ,
I will not stay with Isidāsī,
I can’t stand to live together with Isidāsī

Ekāgārehaṁ saha vatthuṁ’.
living together in one house.’
staying in the same house.’

‘Mā evaṁ putta avaca,
‘Please son, do not say that!
‘Son, don’t speak like this!

Isidāsī paṇḍitā paribyattā;
Isidāsi is wise and capable,
Isidāsī is astute and competent,

Uṭṭhāyikā analasā,
she is energetic and virtuous—
she gets up early and works tirelessly,

Kiṁ tuyhaṁ na rocate putta’.
why does she displease you, son?’
son, why doesn’t she please you?’

‘Na ca me hiṁsati kiñci,
‘She does not cause me any harm,
‘She hasn’t done anything to hurt me,

Na cahaṁ isidāsiyā saha vacchaṁ;
but I will not stay here with Isidāsī.
but I just can’t stand to live with her.

Dessāva me alaṁ me,
I just detest her, and I’ve had enough!
As far as I’m concerned, she’s just horrible.

Apucchāhaṁ gamissāmi’.
Unquestionably, I will go!’
I’ve had enough, I’ll take my leave and go.’

Tassa vacanaṁ suṇitvā,
Upon hearing his words,
When they heard his words,

Sassu sasuro ca maṁ apucchiṁsu;
my parents-in-law asked me:
my father-in-law and mother-in-law asked me:

‘Kissa tayā aparaddhaṁ,
‘What have you done wrong?
‘What did you do wrong?

Bhaṇa vissaṭṭhā yathābhūtaṁ’.
Speak clearly and truthfully!’
Tell us honestly, have no fear.’

‘Napihaṁ aparajjhaṁ kiñci,
‘But I have not done anything wrong in any way!
‘I’ve done nothing wrong,

Napi hiṁsemi na bhaṇāmi dubbacanaṁ;
I caused no harm, I did not speak improperly!
I haven’t hurt him, or said anything bad.

Kiṁ sakkā kātuyye,
How is it possible
What can I possibly do,

Yaṁ maṁ viddessate bhattā’.
that my husband detests me?’
when my husband finds me so hateful?’

Te maṁ pitugharaṁ paṭinayiṁsu,
They led me back to my father’s house,
They led me back to my father’s home,

Vimanā dukhena adhibhūtā;
displeased and overpowered by suffering:
distraught, overcome with suffering, and said:

Puttamanurakkhamānā,
‘By protecting our son,
‘By caring for our son,

‘Jitāmhase rūpiniṁ lakkhiṁ’.
we have lost the good fortune of having this beautiful woman.’
we’ve lost her, so lovely and lucky!’

Atha maṁ adāsi tāto,
Then my father gave me to another man
Next my dad gave me to the household

Aḍḍhassa gharamhi dutiyakulikassa;
coming from a wealthy family.
of a second wealthy family-man.

Tato upaḍḍhasuṅkena,
This wealthy merchant got me
For this he got half the bride-price

Yena maṁ vindatha seṭṭhi.
for half the dowry of the previous one.
of that which the financier paid.

Tassapi gharamhi māsaṁ,
I lived in his house for a month,
In his house I also lived a month,

Avasiṁ atha sopi maṁ paṭiccharayi;
I waited on him like a slave,
before he too wanted me gone;

Dāsīva upaṭṭhahantiṁ,
innocent, with perfect morality,
though I served him like a slave,

Adūsikaṁ sīlasampannaṁ.
then he rejected me.
virtuous and doing no wrong.

Bhikkhāya ca vicarantaṁ,
My father then saw a man going about for alms -
My father then spoke to a beggar for alms,

Damakaṁ dantaṁ me pitā bhaṇati;
a tamed man who tames others - and said:
a tamer of others and of himself:

‘Hohisi me jāmātā,
‘You, sage, will be my daughter’s husband:
‘Be my son-in-law;

Nikkhipa poṭṭhiñca ghaṭikañca’.
put down the rags and begging-bowl!’
set aside your rags and bowl.’

Sopi vasitvā pakkhaṁ,
After a fortnight,
He stayed a fortnight before he said to my dad:

Atha tātaṁ bhaṇati ‘dehi me poṭṭhiṁ;
he told my father: ‘Give me back my rags,
‘Give me back my rag robes,

Ghaṭikañca mallakañca,
begging bowl, and cup.
my bowl, and my cup—

Punapi bhikkhaṁ carissāmi’.
I will resume going for alms.’
I’ll wander begging for alms again.’

Atha naṁ bhaṇatī tāto,
Then my father, mother,
So then my mum and my dad

Ammā sabbo ca me ñātigaṇavaggo;
and all of my relatives, asked him:
and my whole group of relatives said:

‘Kiṁ te na kīrati idha,
‘What was not done for you here?
‘What has not been done for you here?

Bhaṇa khippaṁ taṁ te karihi’ti.
Speak, and it will be quickly done for you!’
Quickly, tell us what we can do for you!’

Evaṁ bhaṇito bhaṇati,
When this was said he replied:
When they spoke to him like this he said,

‘Yadi me attā sakkoti alaṁ mayhaṁ;
‘Enough! I am able to look after myself.
‘If I can make do for myself, that is enough.

Isidāsiyā na saha vacchaṁ,
I will not stay with Isidāsī,
I can’t stand to live together with Isidāsī

Ekagharehaṁ saha vatthuṁ’.
living together in one house.’
staying in the same house.’

Vissajjito gato so,
He is lost and gone,
Released, he left.

Ahampi ekākinī vicintemi;
and I, all alone, consider:
But I sat all alone contemplating:

‘Āpucchitūna gacchaṁ,
‘After asking for permission, I will leave,
‘Having taken my leave, I’ll go,

Marituye vā pabbajissaṁ vā’.
and either die or go forth.’
either to die or to go forth.’

Atha ayyā jinadattā,
Then Ayyā Jinadattā
But then the venerable lady Jinadattā,

Āgacchī gocarāya caramānā;
came traveling through the area.
learned and virtuous,

Tātakulaṁ vinayadharī,
She was of my father’s clan, upholder of the vinaya,
who had memorized the monastic law,

Bahussutā sīlasampannā.
very learned, with perfect morality.
came to my dad’s house in search of alms.

Taṁ disvāna amhākaṁ,
When I saw her,
When I saw her,

Uṭṭhāyāsanaṁ tassā paññāpayiṁ;
I got up and prepared a seat for her.
I got up from my seat and prepared it for her.

Nisinnāya ca pāde,
I sat down at her feet,
When she had taken her seat,

Vanditvā bhojanamadāsiṁ.
paid respects, and offered food.
I honored her feet and offered her a meal,

Annena ca pānena ca,
I arranged food, drink,
satisfying her with food and drink,

Khajjena ca yañca tattha sannihitaṁ;
and other edibles.
treats, or whatever was in the cupboard.

Santappayitvā avacaṁ,
Having satisfied her, I said:
Then I said:

‘Ayye icchāmi pabbajituṁ’.
‘Ayya, I desire to go forth!’
‘Ma’am, I wish to go forth!’

Atha maṁ bhaṇatī tāto,
Then my father spoke thus:
But my dad said to me:

‘Idheva puttaka carāhi tvaṁ dhammaṁ;
‘My little child, go and practice the Dhamma right here!
‘Child, practice Dhamma right here!

Annena ca pānena ca,
With food and drink,
With food and drink

Tappaya samaṇe dvijātī ca’.
you will satiate contemplatives and twice-born brahmins.’
satisfy ascetics and the twice-born.’

Athahaṁ bhaṇāmi tātaṁ,
In tears, I said to my father,
Then I said to my dad,

Rodantī añjaliṁ paṇāmetvā;
with my hands raised in añjali:
crying, my joined palms raised to him:

‘Pāpañhi mayā pakataṁ,
‘Evil deeds were done by me in the past,
‘I’ve done bad things in the past;

Kammaṁ taṁ nijjaressāmi’.
I will grind down that karma.’
I shall wear that bad deed away.’

Atha maṁ bhaṇatī tāto,
Then my father said to me:
And my dad said to me:

‘Pāpuṇa bodhiñca aggadhammañca;
‘Reach enlightenment, the highest Dhamma,
‘May you attain awakening, the highest state,

Nibbānañca labhassu,
Obtain Nirvana,
and may you find the extinguishment

Yaṁ sacchikarī dvipadaseṭṭho’.
which was realized by the foremost human.’
that was realized by the best of men!’

Mātāpitū abhivādayitvā,
I paid respects to mother and father,
I bowed down to my mother and father,

Sabbañca ñātigaṇavaggaṁ;
and all my relatives.
and my whole group of relatives;

Sattāhaṁ pabbajitā,
A week from my going-forth,
and then, seven days after going forth,

Tisso vijjā aphassayiṁ.
I attained the three knowledges.
I realized the three knowledges.

Jānāmi attano satta,
I know my previous seven lives,
I know my last seven lives;

Jātiyo yassayaṁ phalavipāko;
which this current birth is its fruit and result.
I shall relate to you the deeds

Taṁ tava ācikkhissaṁ,
Single-mindedly pay attention,
of which this life is the fruit and result:

Taṁ ekamanā nisāmehi.
and I will explain it to you.
focus your whole mind on that.

Nagaramhi erakacche,
In a town in marshy lands,
In the city of Erakacca

Suvaṇṇakāro ahaṁ pahūtadhano;
I was a goldsmith with abundant wealth.
I was a goldsmith with lots of money.

Yobbanamadena matto,
Intoxicated with youth,
Drunk on the pride of youth,

So paradāraṁ asevihaṁ.
I had an affair with another’s wife.
I had sex with someone else’s wife.

Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,
When I fell away from there,
Having passed away from there,

Nirayamhi apaccisaṁ ciraṁ;
I was tormented in hell for a long time.
I burned in hell for a long time.

Pakko tato ca uṭṭhahitvā,
After that torment was over,
Rising up from there

Makkaṭiyā kucchimokkamiṁ.
I entered the belly of a female monkey.
I was conceived in a monkey’s womb.

Sattāhajātakaṁ maṁ,
A week after I had been born,
When I was only seven days old,

Mahākapi yūthapo nillacchesi;
the leader of the monkeys castrated me.
I was castrated by the monkey chief.

Tassetaṁ kammaphalaṁ,
That is the fruit of my karma,
This was the fruit of that deed,

Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.
because I went with another’s wife.
because of adultery with another’s wife.

Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,
When I fell away from there,
Having passed away from there,

Kālaṁ karitvā sindhavāraññe;
after my death in the Sindhava forest,
passing away in Sindhava grove,

Kāṇāya ca khañjāya ca,
I entered the belly
I was conceived in the womb

Eḷakiyā kucchimokkamiṁ.
of a one-eyed lame goat.
of a lame, one-eyed she-goat.

Dvādasa vassāni ahaṁ,
For twelve years,
I carried children on my back for twelve years,

Nillacchito dārake parivahitvā;
castrated, I carried children on my back.
and all the while I was castrated,

Kimināvaṭṭo akallo,
I was feeble, and full of worms,
worm-eaten, and tail-less,

Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.
because I went with another’s wife.
because of adultery with another’s wife.

Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,
When I fell away from there,
Having passed away from there,

Govāṇijakassa gāviyā jāto;
I was born as a cow owned by a cattle-merchant.
I was reborn in a cow

Vaccho lākhātambo,
A copper-colored calf,
owned by a cattle merchant.

Nillacchito dvādase māse.
I was castrated after twelve months.
A red calf, castrated, for twelve months

Voḍhūna naṅgalamahaṁ,
I dragged a big plow,
I drew a big plow.

Sakaṭañca dhārayāmi;
I pulled a cart,
I shouldered a cart,

Andhovaṭṭo akallo,
afflicted with blindness and unwell,
blind, tail-less, feeble,

Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.
because I went with another’s wife.
because of adultery with another’s wife.

Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,
When I fell away from there,
Having passed away from there,

Vīthiyā dāsiyā ghare jāto;
I was born as a man from a street-slave,
I was born of a slave in the street,

Neva mahilā na puriso,
not from an honorable woman,
with neither male nor female parts,

Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.
because I went with another’s wife.
because of adultery with another’s wife.

Tiṁsativassamhi mato,
Dead by the age of thirty,
I died at thirty years of age,

Sākaṭikakulamhi dārikā jātā;
I was born as a girl in a family of cart-makers,
and was reborn as a girl in a carter’s family.

Kapaṇamhi appabhoge,
wretched and poor,
We were poor, of little wealth,

Dhanika purisapātabahulamhi.
often falling into debt.
greatly oppressed by creditors.

Taṁ maṁ tato satthavāho,
Then a caravan-leader,
Because of the huge interest we owed,

Ussannāya vipulāya vaḍḍhiyā;
in order to increase his already abundant wealth,
I was dragged away screaming,

Okaḍḍhati vilapantiṁ,
severed me from my family,
taken by force from the family home

Acchinditvā kulagharasmā.
as I was dragged away wailing.
by a caravan leader.

Atha soḷasame vasse,
When he saw that I was sixteen years old,
When I was sixteen years old,

Disvā maṁ pattayobbanaṁ kaññaṁ;
a young woman,
seeing I was a girl of marriageable age,

Orundhatassa putto,
I was taken by his son,
his son confined me as his wife—

Giridāso nāma nāmena.
named Giridāsa.
Giridāsa was his name.

Tassapi aññā bhariyā,
He had another wife,
He also had another wife,

Sīlavatī guṇavatī yasavatī ca;
virtuous, with good qualities, glorious,
a virtuous and well-known lady of quality,

Anurattā bhattāraṁ,
enamored with her husband.
faithful to her husband;

Tassāhaṁ viddesanamakāsiṁ.
I filled her with hatred.
yet I stirred up resentment in her.

Tassetaṁ kammaphalaṁ,
That is the fruit of my karma:
As the fruit of that deed,

Yaṁ maṁ apakīritūna gacchanti;
they cast me off and left,
they abandoned me and left,

Dāsīva upaṭṭhahantiṁ,
setting me up as a slave.
though I served them like a slave.

Tassapi anto kato mayā”ti.
But I have now brought this to an end.”
Now I’ve made an end to this as well.”

… Isidāsī therī ….
… The Elder Isidāsī

Cattālīsanipāto niṭṭhito.
The Chapter of the Forties is finished.