Thig 12.1 · Puṇṇikā
Thig 12.1 · Puṇṇātherīgāthā
“I used to be a water-carrier. Even when it was cold,I would always plunge into the water,afraid of my masters’ beatings,harassed by fear of abuse and anger.
“Udahārī ahaṁ sīte,sadā udakamotariṁ;Ayyānaṁ daṇḍabhayabhītā,vācādosabhayaṭṭitā.
Brahmin, what are you afraid of,that you always plunge into the water,your limbs tremblingin the freezing cold?”
Kassa brāhmaṇa tvaṁ bhīto,sadā udakamotari;Vedhamānehi gattehi,sītaṁ vedayase bhusaṁ”.
“Oh, but you already know,Madam Puṇṇikā, when you ask me:I am doing good deeds,to ward off the wickedness I have done.
“Jānantī vata maṁ bhoti,puṇṇike paripucchasi;Karontaṁ kusalaṁ kammaṁ,rundhantaṁ katapāpakaṁ.
Whosoever young or oldperforms a wicked deed,by ablution in water they arereleased from their wicked deed.”
Yo ca vuḍḍho daharo vā,pāpakammaṁ pakubbati;Dakābhisecanā sopi,pāpakammā pamuccati”.
“Who on earth told you this,one ignoramus to another:‘Actually, by ablution in water one isreleased from a wicked deed.’
“Ko nu te idamakkhāsi,ajānantassa ajānako;Dakābhisecanā nāma,pāpakammā pamuccati.
Would not they all go to heaven, then:all the frogs and the turtles,dragons, dolphins,and other water-dwellers too?
Saggaṁ nūna gamissanti,sabbe maṇḍūkakacchapā;Nāgā ca susumārā ca,ye caññe udake carā.
Butchers of sheep and pigs,fishermen, animal trappers,bandits, executioners,and others of evil deeds:by ablution in water they too would bereleased from their wicked deeds.
Orabbhikā sūkarikā,macchikā migabandhakā;Corā ca vajjhaghātā ca,ye caññe pāpakammino;Dakābhisecanā tepi,pāpakammā pamuccare.
If these rivers had carried awayyour bad deeds in the past,they would also carry away your good deeds,from which you’d be prevented.
Sace imā nadiyo te,pāpaṁ pubbe kataṁ vahuṁ;Puññampimā vaheyyuṁ te,tena tvaṁ paribāhiro.
Brahmin, the thing that you are afraid of,when you always plunge into the water,do not do that very thing,don’t let the cold harm your skin.”
Yassa brāhmaṇa tvaṁ bhīto,sadā udakamotari;Tameva brahme mā kāsi,mā te sītaṁ chaviṁ hane”.
“I have been on the wrong path,and you’ve guided me to the noble path.Madam, I give to youthis ablution cloth.”
“Kummaggapaṭipannaṁ maṁ,ariyamaggaṁ samānayi;Dakābhisecanā bhoti,imaṁ sāṭaṁ dadāmi te”.
“Keep the cloth for yourself,I do not want it.If you fear suffering,if you don’t like suffering,
“Tuyheva sāṭako hotu,nāhamicchāmi sāṭakaṁ;Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa,sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ.
then don’t do bad deedseither openly or in secret.If you should do a bad deed,or you’re doing one now,
Mākāsi pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,āvi vā yadi vā raho;Sace ca pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,karissasi karosi vā.
you won’t be freed from suffering,though you fly away and flee.If you fear suffering,if you don’t like suffering,
Na te dukkhā pamutyatthi,upeccāpi palāyato;Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa,sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ.
go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,to his teaching and to the Saṅgha.Undertake the precepts,that will be good for you.”
Upehi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ,dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ;Samādiyāhi sīlāni,taṁ te atthāya hehiti”.
“I go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,to his teaching and to the Saṅgha.I undertake the precepts,that will be good for me.
“Upemi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ,dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ;Samādiyāmi sīlāni,taṁ me atthāya hehiti.
I used to be brahmin only by kin,today I truly am a brahmin!Master of the three knowledges, <j>accomplished in wisdom,I’m a scholar, a bathed initiate.”
Brahmabandhu pure āsiṁ,ajjamhi saccabrāhmaṇo;Tevijjo vedasampanno,sottiyo camhi nhātako”ti.
… Puṇṇā therī ….
Soḷasakanipāto niṭṭhito.