---
title: "Verses of the Senior Nuns · Therīgāthā"
author: "The Elder Nuns"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 16 of 16
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/16/
cite: "The Elder Nuns, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Verses of the Senior Nuns · Therīgāthā, section 16. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/16/"
---

# Verses of the Senior Nuns · Therīgāthā

*The Elder Nuns, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato*

The first collection of women’s religious poetry: seventy-three nuns tell how they found freedom.

> Pali: the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka (Buddha Jayanti edition, 2500), from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

> English: Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the segment numbers the two texts share, gathered into paragraphs; verse keeps its lines.

## 16. The Great Book · Thig 16.1

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/16/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/16/#p-N

[¶0] Thig 16.1 · Sumedhā

> Pali: Thig 16.1 · Sumedhātherīgāthā

[¶1] In Mantāvatī city, Sumedhā,
the daughter of King Koñca’s chief queen,
was converted by those
who practice the Buddha’s teaching.

> Pali: Mantāvatiyā nagare,
Rañño koñcassa aggamahesiyā;
Dhītā āsiṁ sumedhā,
Pasāditā sāsanakarehi.

[¶2] She was virtuous, a brilliant speaker,
learned, and trained in the Buddha’s instructions.
She went up to her mother and father and said:
“Pay heed, both of you!

> Pali: Sīlavatī cittakathā,
Bahussutā buddhasāsane vinitā;
Mātāpitaro upagamma,
Bhaṇati “ubhayo nisāmetha.

[¶3] I delight in extinguishment!
No state of life is eternal, not even that of the gods;
what then of sensual pleasures, so hollow,
offering little gratification and much distress.

> Pali: Nibbānābhiratāhaṁ,
Asassataṁ bhavagataṁ yadipi dibbaṁ;
Kimaṅgaṁ pana tucchā kāmā,
Appassādā bahuvighātā.

[¶4] Sensual pleasures are bitter as the venom of a snake,
yet fools are infatuated by them.
Sent to hell for a very long time,
they are beaten and tortured.

> Pali: Kāmā kaṭukā āsī,
Visūpamā yesu mucchitā bālā;
Te dīgharattaṁ niraye,
Samappitā haññante dukkhitā.

[¶5] Those who grow in wickedness
ever lament in the underworld <j>due to their own bad deeds.
They’re fools, unrestrained in body,
mind, and speech.

> Pali: Socanti pāpakammā,
Vinipāte pāpavaddhino sadā;
Kāyena ca vācāya ca,
Manasā ca asaṁvutā bālā.

[¶6] Those witless, senseless fools,
trapped by the origin of suffering,
are ignorant, not understanding the noble truths
when they are being taught.

> Pali: Bālā te duppaññā,
Acetanā dukkhasamudayoruddhā;
Desente ajānantā,
Na bujjhare ariyasaccāni.

[¶7] Most people, mum, ignorant of the truths
taught by the excellent Buddha,
look forward to a state of life,
longing for rebirth among the gods.

> Pali: Saccāni amma buddhavaradesitāni,
Te bahutarā ajānantā ye;
Abhinandanti bhavagataṁ,
Pihenti devesu upapattiṁ.

[¶8] Yet even rebirth among the gods
in an impermanent state of life is not eternal.
But fools are not scared
of being reborn time and again.

> Pali: Devesupi upapatti,
Asassatā bhavagate aniccamhi;
Na ca santasanti bālā,
Punappunaṁ jāyitabbassa.

[¶9] Four lower realms and two other realms
may be gained somehow or other.
But for those who end up in a lower realm,
there is no way to go forth in the hells.

> Pali: Cattāro vinipātā,
Duve ca gatiyo kathañci labbhanti;
Na ca vinipātagatānaṁ,
Pabbajjā atthi nirayesu.

[¶10] May you both grant me permission to go forth
in the dispensation of him of the ten powers.
Living at ease, I shall apply myself
to giving up rebirth and death.

> Pali: Anujānātha maṁ ubhayo,
Pabbajituṁ dasabalassa pāvacane;
Appossukkā ghaṭissaṁ,
Jātimaraṇappahānāya.

[¶11] Why look forward to a new state of life
in this useless, insubstantial body?
Grant me permission, I shall go forth
to make an end of craving for a new life.

> Pali: Kiṁ bhavagate abhinanditena,
Kāyakalinā asārena;
Bhavataṇhāya nirodhā,
Anujānātha pabbajissāmi.

[¶12] A Buddha has arisen, the time has come,
the unlucky moment has passed.
As long as I live I’ll never betray
my ethical precepts or my chaste path.”

> Pali: Buddhānaṁ uppādo vivajjito,
Akkhaṇo khaṇo laddho;
Sīlāni brahmacariyaṁ,
Yāvajīvaṁ na dūseyyaṁ”.

[¶13] Then Sumedhā said to her parents:
“So long as I remain a layperson,
I’ll refuse to eat any food,
until I’ve fallen under the sway of death.”

> Pali: Evaṁ bhaṇati sumedhā,
Mātāpitaro “na tāva āhāraṁ;
Āharissaṁ gahaṭṭhā,
Maraṇavasaṁ gatāva hessāmi”.

[¶14] Upset, her mother burst into tears,
while her father, though grieved,
tried his best to persuade her
as she lay collapsed upstairs in the longhouse.

> Pali: Mātā dukkhitā rodati pitā ca,
Assā sabbaso samabhihato;
Ghaṭenti saññāpetuṁ,
Pāsādatale chamāpatitaṁ.

[¶15] “Get up child, why do you grieve so?
You’re already betrothed to be married!
King Anīkaratta the handsome
is in Vāraṇavatī: he is your betrothed.

> Pali: “Uṭṭhehi puttaka kiṁ soci,
Tena dinnāsi vāraṇavatimhi;
Rājā anīkaratto,
Abhirūpo tassa tvaṁ dinnā.

[¶16] You shall be the chief queen,
wife of King Anīkaratta.
Ethical precepts, the chaste path—
going forth is hard to do, my child.

> Pali: Aggamahesī bhavissasi,
Anikarattassa rājino bhariyā;
Sīlāni brahmacariyaṁ,
Pabbajjā dukkarā puttaka.

[¶17] As a royal there is command, wealth, authority,
and the happiness of possessions.
Enjoy sensual pleasures while you’re still young!
Let your wedding take place, my child!”

> Pali: Rajje āṇā dhanamissariyaṁ,
Bhogā sukhā daharikāsi;
Bhuñjāhi kāmabhoge,
Vāreyyaṁ hotu te putta”.

[¶18] Then Sumedhā said to him:
“Let this not come to pass! Existence is hollow!
I shall either go forth or die,
but I shall never marry.

> Pali: Atha ne bhaṇati sumedhā,
“Mā edisikāni bhavagatamasāraṁ;
Pabbajjā vā hohiti,
Maraṇaṁ vā me na ceva vāreyyaṁ.

[¶19] Why cling to this rotting body so foul,
stinking of fluids,
a horrifying water-bag carcass,
always oozing, full of filth?

> Pali: Kimiva pūtikāyamasuciṁ,
Savanagandhaṁ bhayānakaṁ kuṇapaṁ;
Abhisaṁviseyyaṁ bhastaṁ,
Asakiṁ paggharitaṁ asucipuṇṇaṁ.

[¶20] Knowing it like I do, what’s the point?
A carcass is vile, smeared with flesh and blood,
food for birds and swarms of worms—
why have we been given it?

> Pali: Kimiva tahaṁ jānantī,
Vikūlakaṁ maṁsasoṇitupalittaṁ;
Kimikulālayaṁ sakuṇabhattaṁ,
Kaḷevaraṁ kissa diyyati.

[¶21] Before long the body, bereft of consciousness,
is carried out to the charnel ground,
to be discarded like an old log
by relatives in disgust.

> Pali: Nibbuyhati susānaṁ,
Aciraṁ kāyo apetaviññāṇo;
Chuddho kaḷiṅgaraṁ viya,
Jigucchamānehi ñātīhi.

[¶22] When they’ve discarded it in the charnel ground,
to be eaten by others, your own parents
bathe themselves, disgusted;
what then of people at large?

> Pali: Chuddhūna naṁ susāne,
Parabhattaṁ nhāyanti jigucchantā;
Niyakā mātāpitaro,
Kiṁ pana sādhāraṇā janatā.

[¶23] They’re attached to this hollow carcass,
this mass of sinews and bone;
this rotting body
full of saliva, tears, feces, and pus.

> Pali: Ajjhositā asāre,
Kaḷevare aṭṭhinhārusaṅghāte;
Kheḷassuccārassava,
Paripuṇṇe pūtikāyamhi.

[¶24] If anyone were to dissect it,
turning it inside out,
the unbearable stench
would disgust even their own mother.

> Pali: Yo naṁ vinibbhujitvā,
Abbhantaramassa bāhiraṁ kayirā;
Gandhassa asahamānā,
Sakāpi mātā jiguccheyya.

[¶25] Rationally examining
the aggregates, elements, and sense fields
as conditioned, rooted in birth, suffering—
why would I wish for marriage?

> Pali: Khandhadhātuāyatanaṁ,
Saṅkhataṁ jātimūlakaṁ dukkhaṁ;
Yoniso anuvicinantī,
Vāreyyaṁ kissa iccheyyaṁ.

[¶26] Let three hundred sharp swords
fall on my body everyday!
Even if the slaughter lasted a hundred years
it’d be worth it if it led to the end of suffering.

> Pali: Divase divase tisatti,
Satāni navanavā pateyyuṁ kāyamhi;
Vassasatampi ca ghāto,
Seyyo dukkhassa cevaṁ khayo.

[¶27] One who understands the Teacher’s words
would put up with this slaughter:
‘Long for you is transmigration
being killed time and time again.’

> Pali: Ajjhupagacche ghātaṁ,
Yo viññāyevaṁ satthuno vacanaṁ;
‘Dīgho tesaṁ saṁsāro,
Punappunaṁ haññamānānaṁ’.

[¶28] Among gods and humans,
in the realm of animals or that of titans,
among the ghosts or in the hells,
endless killings are seen.

> Pali: Devesu manussesu ca,
Tiracchānayoniyā asurakāye;
Petesu ca nirayesu ca,
Aparimitā dissare ghātā.

[¶29] The hells are full of killing,
for the corrupt who have fallen to the underworld.
Even among the gods there is no shelter,
for no happiness excels extinguishment.

> Pali: Ghātā nirayesu bahū,
Vinipātagatassa pīḷiyamānassa;
Devesupi attāṇaṁ,
Nibbānasukhā paraṁ natthi.

[¶30] Those who are committed to the dispensation
of him of the ten powers attain extinguishment.
Living at ease, they apply themselves
to giving up rebirth and death.

> Pali: Pattā te nibbānaṁ,
Ye yuttā dasabalassa pāvacane;
Appossukkā ghaṭenti,
Jātimaraṇappahānāya.

[¶31] On this very day, dad, I shall renounce:
what’s to enjoy in hollow riches?
I’m disillusioned with sensual pleasures,
they’re like vomit, made like a palm stump.”

> Pali: Ajjeva tātabhinikkha-
missaṁ bhogehi kiṁ asārehi;
Nibbinnā me kāmā,
Vantasamā tālavatthukatā”.

[¶32] As she spoke thus to her father,
Anīkaratta, to whom she was betrothed,
approached from Vāraṇavatī
at the time appointed for the marriage.

> Pali: Sā cevaṁ bhaṇati pitaram-
anīkaratto ca yassa sā dinnā;
Upayāsi vāraṇavate,
Vāreyyamupaṭṭhite kāle.

[¶33] Then Sumedhā took up a knife,
and cut off her hair, so black, thick, and soft.
Shutting herself in the longhouse,
she entered the first absorption.

> Pali: Atha asitanicitamuduke,
Kese khaggena chindiya sumedhā;
Pāsādaṁ pidahitvā,
Paṭhamajjhānaṁ samāpajji.

[¶34] And as she entered it there,
Anīkaratta arrived at the city.
Then in the longhouse, Sumedhā
well developed the perception of impermanence.

> Pali: Sā ca tahiṁ samāpannā,
Anīkaratto ca āgato nagaraṁ;
Pāsāde ca sumedhā,
Aniccasaññaṁ subhāveti.

[¶35] As she investigated in meditation,
Anīkaratta quickly climbed the stairs.
His limbs adorned with gems <j>and honey-yellow gold,
he begged Sumedhā with cupped palms:

> Pali: Sā ca manasi karoti,
Anīkaratto ca āruhī turitaṁ;
Maṇikanakabhūsitaṅgo,
Katañjalī yācati sumedhaṁ.

[¶36] “As a royal there is command, wealth, authority,
and the happiness of possessions.
Enjoy sensual pleasures while you’re still young!
Sensual pleasures are hard to find in the world!

> Pali: “Rajje āṇādhanamissa-
riyaṁ bhogā sukhā daharikāsi;
Bhuñjāhi kāmabhoge,
Kāmasukhā dullabhā loke.

[¶37] I’ve handed royalty to you—
enjoy riches, give gifts!
Don’t be sad;
your parents are upset.”

> Pali: Nissaṭṭhaṁ te rajjaṁ,
Bhoge bhuñjassu dehi dānāni;
Mā dummanā ahosi,
Mātāpitaro te dukkhitā”.

[¶38] Sumedhā, having no use for sensual pleasures,
and having done away with delusion, <j>spoke right back:
“Do not take pleasure in sensuality!
See the danger in sensual pleasures!

> Pali: Taṁ taṁ bhaṇati sumedhā,
Kāmehi anatthikā vigatamohā;
“Mā kāme abhinandi,
Kāmesvādīnavaṁ passa.

[¶39] Mandhātā, king of four continents,
foremost in enjoying sensual pleasures,
died unsated,
his desires unfulfilled.

> Pali: Cātuddīpo rājā,
Mandhātā āsi kāmabhoginamaggo;
Atitto kālaṅkato,
Na cassa paripūritā icchā.

[¶40] Were the seven jewels to rain from the sky
all over the ten directions,
there would be no sating of sensual pleasures:
people die insatiable.

> Pali: Satta ratanāni vasseyya,
Vuṭṭhimā dasadisā samantena;
Na catthi titti kāmānaṁ,
Atittāva maranti narā.

[¶41] Like a butcher’s knife and chopping board,
sensual pleasures are like a cobra’s head.
They burn like a fire-brand,
they resemble a skeleton.

> Pali: Asisūnūpamā kāmā,
kāmā sappasiropamā;
Ukkopamā anudahanti,
aṭṭhikaṅkala sannibhā.

[¶42] Sensual pleasures are impermanent and unstable,
they’re full of suffering, a terrible poison;
like a hot iron ball,
the root of gloom, their fruit is pain.

> Pali: Aniccā adhuvā kāmā,
bahudukkhā mahāvisā;
Ayoguḷova santatto,
aghamūlā dukhapphalā.

[¶43] Sensual pleasures are like fruits of a tree,
like scraps of meat, painful,
they trick you like a dream;
sensual pleasures are like borrowed goods.

> Pali: Rukkhapphalūpamā kāmā,
maṁsapesūpamā dukhā;
Supinopamā vañcaniyā,
kāmā yācitakūpamā.

[¶44] Sensual pleasures are like swords and spears;
a disease, a boil, gloom and trouble.
Like a pit of glowing coals,
the root of gloom, fear and slaughter.

> Pali: Sattisūlūpamā kāmā,
rogo gaṇḍo aghaṁ nighaṁ;
Aṅgārakāsusadisā,
aghamūlaṁ bhayaṁ vadho.

[¶45] Thus sensual pleasures have been explained
to be obstructions, so full of suffering.
Please leave! As for me,
I have no trust in any state of life.

> Pali: Evaṁ bahudukkhā kāmā,
akkhātā antarāyikā;
Gacchatha na me bhavagate,
vissāso atthi attano.

[¶46] What can someone else do for me
when their own head is burning?
When stalked by old age and death,
you should strive to destroy them.”

> Pali: Kiṁ mama paro karissati,
Attano sīsamhi ḍayhamānamhi;
Anubandhe jarāmaraṇe,
Tassa ghātāya ghaṭitabbaṁ”.

[¶47] She opened the door
and saw her parents with Anīkaratta,
sitting crying on the floor.
And so she said this:

> Pali: Dvāraṁ apāpuritvānahaṁ,
Mātāpitaro anīkarattañca;
Disvāna chamaṁ nisinne,
Rodante idamavocaṁ.

[¶48] “Transmigration is long for fools,
crying again and again <j>at that with no known beginning—
the death of a father,
the killing of a brother or of themselves.

> Pali: “Dīgho bālānaṁ saṁsāro,
Punappunañca rodataṁ;
Anamatagge pitu maraṇe,
Bhātu vadhe attano ca vadhe.

[¶49] Remember the ocean of tears, of milk, of blood—
transmigration with no known beginning.
Remember the bones piled up
by beings transmigrating.

> Pali: Assu thaññaṁ rudhiraṁ,
Saṁsāraṁ anamataggato saratha;
Sattānaṁ saṁsarataṁ,
Sarāhi aṭṭhīnañca sannicayaṁ.

[¶50] Remember the four oceans
compared with tears, milk, and blood.
Remember bones piled up high as Mount Vepulla
in the course of a single eon.

> Pali: Sara caturodadhī,
Upanīte assuthaññarudhiramhi;
Sara ekakappamaṭṭhīnaṁ,
Sañcayaṁ vipulena samaṁ.

[¶51] Transmigration with no known beginning
is compared to this broad Black Plum Tree Land;
if divided into lumps the size of jujube seeds,
they’d still be fewer than his mother’s mothers.

> Pali: Anamatagge saṁsarato,
Mahiṁ jambudīpamupanītaṁ;
Kolaṭṭhimattaguḷikā,
Mātā mātusveva nappahonti.

[¶52] Remember the grass, sticks, and leaves,
compare that with no known beginning:
if split into chips four inches in size,
they’d still be fewer than his father’s fathers.

> Pali: Tiṇakaṭṭhasākhāpalāsaṁ,
Upanītaṁ anamataggato sara;
Caturaṅgulikā ghaṭikā,
Pitupitusveva nappahonti.

[¶53] Remember the one-eyed turtle <j>and the yoke with a hole
blown in the ocean from east to west—
sticking the head in the hole
is a metaphor for gaining a human birth.

> Pali: Sara kāṇakacchapaṁ pubba-
samudde aparato ca yugachiddaṁ;
Siraṁ tassa ca paṭimukkaṁ,
Manussalābhamhi opammaṁ.

[¶54] Remember the form of this unlucky body,
insubstantial as a lump of foam.
See the aggregates as impermanent,
remember the hells so full of distress.

> Pali: Sara rūpaṁ pheṇapiṇḍopam-
assa kāyakalino asārassa;
Khandhe passa anicce,
Sarāhi niraye bahuvighāte.

[¶55] Remember those swelling the charnel grounds
again and again in life after life.
Remember the danger of gharials!
Remember the four truths!

> Pali: Sara kaṭasiṁ vaḍḍhente,
Punappunaṁ tāsu tāsu jātīsu;
Sara kumbhīlabhayāni ca,
Sarāhi cattāri saccāni.

[¶56] When freedom from death is there to be found,
why would you drink the five bitter poisons?
For all erotic delights
are so much more bitter than them.

> Pali: Amatamhi vijjamāne,
Kiṁ tava pañcakaṭukena pītena;
Sabbā hi kāmaratiyo,
Kaṭukatarā pañcakaṭukena.

[¶57] When freedom from death is there to be found,
why would you burn for sensual pleasures?
For all erotic delights
are burning, boiling, bubbling, seething.

> Pali: Amatamhi vijjamāne,
Kiṁ tava kāmehi ye pariḷāhā;
Sabbā hi kāmaratiyo,
Jalitā kuthitā kampitā santāpitā.

[¶58] When there is freedom from enmity,
why would you want your enemy, sensual pleasures?
Many enemies take a share of your sensual pleasures:
kings, fire, robbers, flood, and unloved heirs.

> Pali: Asapattamhi samāne,
Kiṁ tava kāmehi ye bahusapattā;
Rājaggicoraudakappiyehi,
Sādhāraṇā kāmā bahusapattā.

[¶59] When liberation is there to be found,
what good are sensual pleasures that kill and bind?
For though unwilling, <j>when sensual pleasures are there,
they are subject to the pain of killing and binding.

> Pali: Mokkhamhi vijjamāne,
Kiṁ tava kāmehi yesu vadhabandho;
Kāmesu hi asakāmā,
Vadhabandhadukhāni anubhonti.

[¶60] As a blazing grass torch
burns one who grasps it without letting go,
sensual pleasures are like a grass torch,
burning those who do not let go.

> Pali: Ādīpitā tiṇukkā,
Gaṇhantaṁ dahanti neva muñcantaṁ;
Ukkopamā hi kāmā,
Dahanti ye te na muñcanti.

[¶61] Don’t give up abundant happiness
for the trivial joys of sensual pleasure.
Don’t fret later,
like a catfish on a hook.

> Pali: Mā appakassa hetu,
Kāmasukhassa vipulaṁ jahī sukhaṁ;
Mā puthulomova baḷisaṁ,
Gilitvā pacchā vihaññasi.

[¶62] Deliberately control yourself <j>among sensual pleasures!
You’re like a hound fixed to a chain:
sensual pleasures will surely devour you
as hungry corpse-workers would a hound.

> Pali: Kāmaṁ kāmesu damassu,
Tāva sunakhova saṅkhalābaddho;
Kāhinti khu taṁ kāmā,
Chātā sunakhaṁva caṇḍālā.

[¶63] Harnessed to sensual pleasure,
you undergo endless pain,
along with much mental anguish:
relinquish sensual pleasures, they don’t last!

> Pali: Aparimitañca dukkhaṁ,
Bahūni ca cittadomanassāni;
Anubhohisi kāmayutto,
Paṭinissaja addhuve kāme.

[¶64] When the unaging is there to be found,
what good are sensual pleasures in which is old age?
All rebirths everywhere
are bonded to death and sickness.

> Pali: Ajaramhi vijjamāne,
Kiṁ tava kāmehi yesu jarā;
Maraṇabyādhigahitā,
Sabbā sabbattha jātiyo.

[¶65] This is freedom from old age, freedom from death!
This is freedom from old age and death, the sorrowless state!
Free of enmity, unconstricted,
faultless, fearless, without tribulations.

> Pali: Idamajaramidamamaraṁ,
Idamajarāmaraṁ padamasokaṁ;
Asapattamasambādhaṁ,
Akhalitamabhayaṁ nirupatāpaṁ.

[¶66] This freedom from death has been realized by many;
even today it can be obtained
by those who rationally apply themselves;
but it’s impossible if you don’t try.”

> Pali: Adhigatamidaṁ bahūhi,
Amataṁ ajjāpi ca labhanīyamidaṁ;
Yo yoniso payuñjati,
Na ca sakkā aghaṭamānena”.

[¶67] So said Sumedhā,
lacking delight in conditioned things.
Soothing Anīkaratta,
Sumedhā cast her hair on the ground.

> Pali: Evaṁ bhaṇati sumedhā,
Saṅkhāragate ratiṁ alabhamānā;
Anunentī anikarattaṁ,
Kese ca chamaṁ khipi sumedhā.

[¶68] Standing up, Anīkaratta
raised his cupped palms to her father and begged:
“Let go of Sumedhā, so that she may go forth!
She will see the truth of liberation.”

> Pali: Uṭṭhāya anikaratto,
Pañjaliko yācatassā pitaraṁ so;
“Vissajjetha sumedhaṁ,
Pabbajituṁ vimokkhasaccadassā”.

[¶69] Released by her mother and father,
she went forth, afraid of grief and fear.
While still a trainee nun <j>she realized the six direct knowledges,
along with the highest fruit.

> Pali: Vissajjitā mātāpitūhi,
pabbaji sokabhayabhītā;
Cha abhiññā sacchikatā,
aggaphalaṁ sikkhamānāya.

[¶70] The extinguishment of the princess
was incredible and amazing;
on her deathbed, she declared
her several past lives.

> Pali: Acchariyamabbhutaṁ taṁ,
Nibbānaṁ āsi rājakaññāya;
Pubbenivāsacaritaṁ,
Yathā byākari pacchime kāle.

[¶71] “In the time of the Buddha Koṇāgamana,
we three friends gave the gift
of a newly-built dwelling
in the Saṅgha’s monastery.

> Pali: “Bhagavati koṇāgamane,
Saṅghārāmamhi navanivesamhi;
Sakhiyo tisso janiyo,
Vihāradānaṁ adāsimha.

[¶72] Ten times, a hundred times,
a thousand times, ten thousand times,
we were reborn among the gods,
let alone among humans.

> Pali: Dasakkhattuṁ satakkhattuṁ,
Dasasatakkhattuṁ satāni ca satakkhattuṁ;
Devesu uppajjimha,
Ko pana vādo manussesu.

[¶73] We were mighty among the gods,
let alone among humans!
I was queen to a king with the seven treasures—
I was the treasure of a wife.

> Pali: Devesu mahiddhikā ahumha,
Mānusakamhi ko pana vādo;
Sattaratanassa mahesī,
Itthiratanaṁ ahaṁ āsiṁ.

[¶74] That was the cause, that the origin, that the root,
that was the acceptance of the dispensation;
that first meeting culminated in extinguishment
for one delighting in the teaching.

> Pali: So hetu so pabhavo,
Taṁ mūlaṁ sāva sāsane khantī;
Taṁ paṭhamasamodhānaṁ,
Taṁ dhammaratāya nibbānaṁ.

[¶75] So say those who have faith in the words
of the one unrivaled in wisdom.
They’re disillusioned with any state of life,
and being disillusioned they become dispassionate.”

> Pali: Evaṁ karonti ye sadda-
hanti vacanaṁ anomapaññassa;
Nibbindanti bhavagate,
Nibbinditvā virajjantī”ti.

[¶76] That is how these verses were recited by the senior nun Sumedhā.

> Pali: Itthaṁ sudaṁ sumedhā therī gāthāyo abhāsitthāti.

[¶77] > Pali: Mahānipāto niṭṭhito.

[¶78] > Pali: Samattā therīgāthāyo

[¶79] > Pali: Gāthāsatāni cattāri,
asīti puna cuddasa;
Theriyekuttarasatā,
sabbā tā āsavakkhayāti.

[¶80] The Verses of the Senior Nuns are finished.

> Pali: Therīgāthāpāḷi niṭṭhitā.