sutta » kn » thig » Therīgāthā 15.1

Isidāsītherīgāthā

Isidāsī Verses of the Elder Isidāsī

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atha ayyā jinadattā,
But then Mistress Jinadattā,
Then Ayyā Jinadattā

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

… Isidāsī therī ….
… The Elder Isidāsī

Cattālīsanipāto niṭṭhito.
The Chapter of the Forties is finished.