---
title: "Verses of the Senior Nuns · Therīgāthā"
author: "The Elder Nuns"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 6 of 16
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/6/
cite: "The Elder Nuns, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Verses of the Senior Nuns · Therīgāthā, section 6. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/6/"
---

# 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.

## 6. The Book of the Sixes · Thig 6.1–6.8

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/6/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/6/#p-N

[¶0] Thig 6.1 · Five Hundred Students of Paṭācārā

> Pali: Thig 6.1 · Pañcasatamattātherīgāthā

[¶1] “One whose path you do not know,
not whence they came nor where they went;
though they came from who knows where,
you mourn that being, crying, ‘Oh my son!’

> Pali: “Yassa maggaṁ na jānāsi,
āgatassa gatassa vā;
Taṁ kuto cāgataṁ sattaṁ,
‘mama putto’ti rodasi.

[¶2] But one whose path you do know,
whence they came or where they went;
that one you do not lament—
such is the nature of living creatures.

> Pali: Maggañca khossa jānāsi,
āgatassa gatassa vā;
Na naṁ samanusocesi,
evaṁdhammā hi pāṇino.

[¶3] Unasked he came,
he left without leave.
He must have come from somewhere,
and stayed who knows how many days.
He left from here by one road,
he will go from there by another.

> Pali: Ayācito tatāgacchi,
nānuññāto ito gato;
Kutoci nūna āgantvā,
vasitvā katipāhakaṁ;
Itopi aññena gato,
tatopaññena gacchati.

[¶4] Departing with the form of a human,
he will go on transmigrating.
As he came, so he went:
why weep over that?”

> Pali: Peto manussarūpena,
saṁsaranto gamissati;
Yathāgato tathā gato,
kā tattha paridevanā”.

[¶5] “Oh! For you have plucked the arrow from me,
so hard to see, stuck in the heart.
You’ve swept away the grief for my son,
in which I once was mired.

> Pali: “Abbahī vata me sallaṁ,
duddasaṁ hadayassitaṁ;
Yā me sokaparetāya,
puttasokaṁ byapānudi.

[¶6] Today I’ve plucked the arrow,
I’m hungerless, quenched.
I go for refuge to that sage, the Buddha,
to his teaching, and to the Saṅgha.”

> Pali: Sājja abbūḷhasallāhaṁ,
Nicchātā parinibbutā;
Buddhaṁ dhammañca saṅghañca,
Upemi saraṇaṁ muniṁ”.

[¶7] That is how five hundred nuns declared their enlightenment.

> Pali: Itthaṁ sudaṁ pañcasatamattā therī bhikkhuniyo … pe….

[¶8] Thig 6.2 · Vāseṭṭhī

> Pali: Thig 6.2 · Vāseṭṭhītherīgāthā

[¶9] Struck down with grief for my son,
deranged, out of my mind,
nude, my hair flying,
I wandered here and there.

> Pali: “Puttasokenahaṁ aṭṭā,
khittacittā visaññinī;
Naggā pakiṇṇakesī ca,
tena tena vicārihaṁ.

[¶10] I lived on rubbish heaps,
in cemeteries and highways.
For three years I wandered,
stricken by hunger and thirst.

> Pali: Vīthi saṅkārakūṭesu,
susāne rathiyāsu ca;
Acariṁ tīṇi vassāni,
khuppipāsāsamappitā.

[¶11] Then I saw the Holy One
back at the city of Mithilā.
Tamer of the untamed,
the Awakened One fears nothing from any quarter.

> Pali: Athaddasāsiṁ sugataṁ,
nagaraṁ mithilaṁ pati;
Adantānaṁ dametāraṁ,
sambuddhamakutobhayaṁ.

[¶12] Regaining my mind,
I paid homage and sat down.
Out of compassion
Gotama taught me the Dhamma.

> Pali: Sacittaṁ paṭiladdhāna,
vanditvāna upāvisiṁ;
So me dhammamadesesi,
anukampāya gotamo.

[¶13] After hearing his teaching,
I went forth to homelessness.
Applying myself to the Teacher’s words,
I realized the state of grace.

> Pali: Tassa dhammaṁ suṇitvāna,
pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ;
Yuñjantī satthuvacane,
sacchākāsiṁ padaṁ sivaṁ.

[¶14] All sorrows are cut off,
given up, they end here.
I’ve fully understood the basis
from which grief comes to be.

> Pali: Sabbe sokā samucchinnā,
pahīnā etadantikā;
Pariññātā hi me vatthū,
yato sokāna sambhavo”ti.

[¶15] > Pali: … Vāseṭṭhī therī ….

[¶16] Thig 6.3 · Khemā

> Pali: Thig 6.3 · Khemātherīgāthā

[¶17] “You’re so young and beautiful!
I too am young, just a youth.
Come, Khemā, let us enjoy
the music of a five-piece band.”

> Pali: “Daharā tvaṁ rūpavatī,
ahampi daharo yuvā;
Pañcaṅgikena turiyena,
ehi kheme ramāmase”.

[¶18] “This body is rotting,
ailing and frail,
I’m horrified and repelled by it,
and I’ve eradicated sensual craving.

> Pali: “Iminā pūtikāyena,
āturena pabhaṅgunā;
Aṭṭiyāmi harāyāmi,
kāmataṇhā samūhatā.

[¶19] Sensual pleasures are like swords and spears;
the aggregates are their chopping block.
What you call erotic delight
is now no delight for me.

> Pali: Sattisūlūpamā kāmā,
khandhāsaṁ adhikuṭṭanā;
Yaṁ ‘tvaṁ kāmaratiṁ’ brūsi,
‘aratī’ dāni sā mama.

[¶20] Relishing is banished in every respect,
and the mass of darkness is shattered.
So know this, Wicked One:
you’re beaten, terminator!”

> Pali: Sabbattha vihatā nandī,
tamokhandho padālito;
Evaṁ jānāhi pāpima,
nihato tvamasi antaka.

[¶21] “Worshiping the stars,
serving the sacred flame in a grove;
failing to grasp the true nature of things,
foolish me, I thought this was purity.

> Pali: Nakkhattāni namassantā,
aggiṁ paricaraṁ vane;
Yathābhuccamajānantā,
bālā suddhimamaññatha.

[¶22] But now I worship the Awakened One,
supreme among men.
Doing the Teacher’s bidding,
I am released from all suffering.”

> Pali: Ahañca kho namassantī,
sambuddhaṁ purisuttamaṁ;
Pamuttā sabbadukkhehi,
satthusāsanakārikā”ti.

[¶23] > Pali: … Khemā therī ….

[¶24] Thig 6.4 · Sujātā

> Pali: Thig 6.4 · Sujātātherīgāthā

[¶25] I was adorned with jewelry and all dressed up,
with garlands, and sandalwood makeup piled on,
all covered over with decorations,
and surrounded by my maids.

> Pali: “Alaṅkatā suvasanā,
mālinī candanokkhitā;
Sabbābharaṇasañchannā,
dāsīgaṇapurakkhatā.

[¶26] Taking food and drink,
staples and dainties in no small amount,
I left my house
and took myself to the park.

> Pali: Annaṁ pānañca ādāya,
khajjaṁ bhojjaṁ anappakaṁ;
Gehato nikkhamitvāna,
uyyānamabhihārayiṁ.

[¶27] I enjoyed myself there and played about,
and then, returning to my own house,
I saw a monastic dwelling,
and so I entered the Añjana wood at Sāketa.

> Pali: Tattha ramitvā kīḷitvā,
āgacchantī sakaṁ gharaṁ;
Vihāraṁ daṭṭhuṁ pāvisiṁ,
sākete añjanaṁ vanaṁ.

[¶28] Seeing the light of the world,
I paid homage and sat down.
Out of compassion
the Clear-eyed One taught me the Dhamma.

> Pali: Disvāna lokapajjotaṁ,
vanditvāna upāvisiṁ;
So me dhammamadesesi,
anukampāya cakkhumā.

[¶29] When I heard the great seer,
I penetrated the truth.
Right there I found the stainless Dhamma,
the state free of death.

> Pali: Sutvā ca kho mahesissa,
saccaṁ sampaṭivijjhahaṁ;
Tattheva virajaṁ dhammaṁ,
phusayiṁ amataṁ padaṁ.

[¶30] Then, having understood the true teaching,
I went forth to homelessness.
I’ve attained the three knowledges;
the Buddha’s bidding was not in vain.

> Pali: Tato viññātasaddhammā,
pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ;
Tisso vijjā anuppattā,
amoghaṁ buddhasāsanan”ti.

[¶31] > Pali: … Sujātā therī ….

[¶32] Thig 6.5 · Anopamā

> Pali: Thig 6.5 · Anopamātherīgāthā

[¶33] I was born into an eminent family,
affluent and wealthy,
endowed with a beautiful complexion and figure;
Majjha’s true-born daughter.

> Pali: “Ucce kule ahaṁ jātā,
bahuvitte mahaddhane;
Vaṇṇarūpena sampannā,
dhītā majjhassa atrajā.

[¶34] I was sought by princes,
coveted by sons of the wealthy.
One sent a messenger to my father:
“Give me Anopamā!

> Pali: Patthitā rājaputtehi,
seṭṭhiputtehi gijjhitā;
Pitu me pesayī dūtaṁ,
detha mayhaṁ anopamaṁ.

[¶35] However much your daughter
Anopamā weighs,
I’ll give you eight times that
in gold coin and gems.”

> Pali: Yattakaṁ tulitā esā,
tuyhaṁ dhītā anopamā;
Tato aṭṭhaguṇaṁ dassaṁ,
hiraññaṁ ratanāni ca.

[¶36] When I saw the Awakened One,
the world’s Elder, unsurpassed,
I paid homage at his feet,
and withdrew to one side.

> Pali: Sāhaṁ disvāna sambuddhaṁ,
lokajeṭṭhaṁ anuttaraṁ;
Tassa pādāni vanditvā,
ekamantaṁ upāvisiṁ.

[¶37] Out of compassion,
Gotama taught me the Dhamma.
While sitting in that seat,
I realized the third fruit.

> Pali: So me dhammamadesesi,
anukampāya gotamo;
Nisinnā āsane tasmiṁ,
phusayiṁ tatiyaṁ phalaṁ.

[¶38] Then, having shaved off my hair,
I went forth to homelessness.
This is the seventh day
since my craving dried up.

> Pali: Tato kesāni chetvāna,
pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ;
Ajja me sattamī ratti,
yato taṇhā visositā”ti.

[¶39] > Pali: … Anopamā therī ….

[¶40] Thig 6.6 · Mahāpajāpati Gotamī

> Pali: Thig 6.6 · Mahāpajāpatigotamītherīgāthā

[¶41] Oh Buddha, my hero: homage to you!
Supreme among all beings,
who released me from suffering,
and many other beings as well.

> Pali: “Buddha vīra namo tyatthu,
sabbasattānamuttama;
Yo maṁ dukkhā pamocesi,
aññañca bahukaṁ janaṁ.

[¶42] All suffering is fully understood;
craving—its cause—is dried up;
the eightfold path has been developed;
and cessation has been realized by me.

> Pali: Sabbadukkhaṁ pariññātaṁ,
Hetutaṇhā visositā;
Bhāvito aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo,
Nirodho phusito mayā.

[¶43] Previously I was a mother, a son,
a father, a brother, and a grandmother.
Failing to grasp the true nature of things,
I transmigrated without reward.

> Pali: Mātā putto pitā bhātā,
ayyakā ca pure ahuṁ;
Yathābhuccamajānantī,
saṁsariṁhaṁ anibbisaṁ.

[¶44] Since I have seen the Blessed One,
this bag of bones is my last.
Transmigration through births is finished,
now there’ll be no more future lives.

> Pali: Diṭṭho hi me so bhagavā,
antimoyaṁ samussayo;
Vikkhīṇo jātisaṁsāro,
natthi dāni punabbhavo.

[¶45] I see the disciples in harmony,
energetic and resolute,
always staunchly vigorous—
this is homage to the Buddhas!

> Pali: Āraddhavīriye pahitatte,
Niccaṁ daḷhaparakkame;
Samagge sāvake passe,
Esā buddhāna vandanā.

[¶46] It was truly for the benefit of many
that Māyā gave birth to Gotama.
He swept away the mass of suffering
for those stricken by sickness and death.

> Pali: Bahūnaṁ vata atthāya,
Māyā janayi gotamaṁ;
Byādhimaraṇatunnānaṁ,
Dukkhakkhandhaṁ byapānudī”ti.

[¶47] > Pali: … Mahāpajāpatigotamī therī ….

[¶48] Thig 6.7 · Guttā

> Pali: Thig 6.7 · Guttātherīgāthā

[¶49] Guttā, you have given up your child,
your wealth, and all that you love.
Foster the goal for which you went forth;
do not fall under the mind’s control.

> Pali: “Gutte yadatthaṁ pabbajjā,
hitvā puttaṁ vasuṁ piyaṁ;
Tameva anubrūhehi,
mā cittassa vasaṁ gami.

[¶50] Beings deceived by the mind,
playing in Māra’s domain,
ignorant, they journey on,
transmigrating through countless rebirths.

> Pali: Cittena vañcitā sattā,
mārassa visaye ratā;
Anekajātisaṁsāraṁ,
sandhāvanti aviddasū.

[¶51] Sensual desire and ill will,
and substantialist view;
misapprehension of precepts and observances,
and doubt as the fifth.

> Pali: Kāmacchandañca byāpādaṁ,
sakkāyadiṭṭhimeva ca;
Sīlabbataparāmāsaṁ,
vicikicchañca pañcamaṁ.

[¶52] O nun, when you have given up
these lower fetters,
you won’t come back
to this world again.

> Pali: Saṁyojanāni etāni,
pajahitvāna bhikkhunī;
Orambhāgamanīyāni,
nayidaṁ punarehisi.

[¶53] And when you’re rid of desire,
conceit, ignorance, and restlessness,
having cut the fetters,
you’ll make an end to suffering.

> Pali: Rāgaṁ mānaṁ avijjañca,
uddhaccañca vivajjiya;
Saṁyojanāni chetvāna,
dukkhassantaṁ karissasi.

[¶54] Having wiped out transmigration,
and fully understood rebirth,
hungerless in this very life,
you will live at peace.

> Pali: Khepetvā jātisaṁsāraṁ,
pariññāya punabbhavaṁ;
Diṭṭheva dhamme nicchātā,
upasantā carissatī”ti.

[¶55] > Pali: … Guttā therī ….

[¶56] Thig 6.8 · Vijayā

> Pali: Thig 6.8 · Vijayātherīgāthā

[¶57] Four or five times
I left my dwelling;
I had failed to find peace of heart,
or any control over my mind.

> Pali: “Catukkhattuṁ pañcakkhattuṁ,
vihārā upanikkhamiṁ;
Aladdhā cetaso santiṁ,
citte avasavattinī.

[¶58] I approached a nun
and politely questioned her.
She taught me the Dhamma:
the elements and sense fields,

> Pali: Bhikkhuniṁ upasaṅkamma,
sakkaccaṁ paripucchahaṁ;
Sā me dhammamadesesi,
dhātuāyatanāni ca.

[¶59] the four noble truths,
the faculties and the powers,
the awakening factors, and the eightfold path
for the attainment of the highest goal.

> Pali: Cattāri ariyasaccāni,
indriyāni balāni ca;
Bojjhaṅgaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,
uttamatthassa pattiyā.

[¶60] After hearing her words,
I did her bidding.
In the first watch of the night,
I recollected my past lives.

> Pali: Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā,
karontī anusāsaniṁ;
Rattiyā purime yāme,
pubbajātimanussariṁ.

[¶61] In the middle watch of the night,
I purified my clairvoyance.
In the last watch of the night,
I shattered the mass of darkness.

> Pali: Rattiyā majjhime yāme,
dibbacakkhuṁ visodhayiṁ;
Rattiyā pacchime yāme,
tamokhandhaṁ padālayiṁ.

[¶62] I then meditated pervading my body
with rapture and bliss.
On the seventh day I stretched out my feet,
having shattered the mass of darkness.

> Pali: Pītisukhena ca kāyaṁ,
Pharitvā vihariṁ tadā;
Sattamiyā pāde pasāresiṁ,
Tamokhandhaṁ padāliyā”ti.

[¶63] > Pali: … Vijayā therī ….

[¶64] > Pali: Chakkanipāto niṭṭhito.