---
title: "Verses of the Senior Nuns · Therīgāthā"
author: "The Elder Nuns"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 9 of 16
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/9/
cite: "The Elder Nuns, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Verses of the Senior Nuns · Therīgāthā, section 9. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/9/"
---

# 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.

## 9. The Book of the Nines · Thig 9.1

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/9/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-therigatha/9/#p-N

[¶0] Thig 9.1 · Vaḍḍha’s Mother

> Pali: Thig 9.1 · Vaḍḍhamātutherīgāthā

[¶1] “Vaḍḍha, please never ever
get snarled in the world.
My child, do not partake
in suffering again and again.

> Pali: “Mā su te vaḍḍha lokamhi,
vanatho āhu kudācanaṁ;
Mā puttaka punappunaṁ,
ahu dukkhassa bhāgimā.

[¶2] For happy dwell the sages, Vaḍḍha,
unstirred, their doubts cut off,
cooled and tamed,
and free of defilements.

> Pali: Sukhañhi vaḍḍha munayo,
anejā chinnasaṁsayā;
Sītibhūtā damappattā,
viharanti anāsavā.

[¶3] Vaḍḍha, foster the path
that the seers have walked,
for the attainment of vision,
and for making an end of suffering.”

> Pali: Tehānuciṇṇaṁ isībhi,
maggaṁ dassanapattiyā;
Dukkhassantakiriyāya,
tvaṁ vaḍḍha anubrūhaya”.

[¶4] “Mother, you speak with such assurance
to me on this matter.
My dear mom, I can’t help thinking
that no snarls are found in you.”

> Pali: “Visāradāva bhaṇasi,
etamatthaṁ janetti me;
Maññāmi nūna māmike,
vanatho te na vijjati”.

[¶5] “Vaḍḍha, not a jot or a skerrick
of snarl is found in me
for any conditions at all,
whether low, high, or middling.

> Pali: “Ye keci vaḍḍha saṅkhārā,
hīnā ukkaṭṭhamajjhimā;
Aṇūpi aṇumattopi,
vanatho me na vijjati.

[¶6] All defilements are ended for me,
meditating and diligent.
I’ve attained the three knowledges
and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.”

> Pali: Sabbe me āsavā khīṇā,
appamattassa jhāyato;
Tisso vijjā anuppattā,
kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ”.

[¶7] “Oh so excellent was the goad
my mother spurred me with!
Owing to her compassion, she spoke
verses on the ultimate goal.

> Pali: “Uḷāraṁ vata me mātā,
patodaṁ samavassari;
Paramatthasañhitā gāthā,
yathāpi anukampikā.

[¶8] On hearing her words,
advised by my mother,
I was struck with righteous urgency
for the sake of sanctuary from the yoke.

> Pali: Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā,
anusiṭṭhiṁ janettiyā;
Dhammasaṁvegamāpādiṁ,
yogakkhemassa pattiyā.

[¶9] Striving, resolute,
tireless all day and night,
urged on by my mother,
I realized supreme peace.

> Pali: Sohaṁ padhānapahitatto,
rattindivamatandito;
Mātarā codito santo,
aphusiṁ santimuttamaṁ”.

[¶10] > Pali: … Vaḍḍhamātā therī ….

[¶11] > Pali: Navakanipāto niṭṭhito.