15.
The Book of the Forties
1.
Verses of the Elder Nun Isidāsī
402.
In the city named Kusuma, in Pāṭaliputta, the ornament of the earth;
Two nuns indeed, virtuous ones, of noble birth from the Sakyan clan.
403.
Isidāsī was one of them there, the second was Bodhī - both accomplished in morality;
Delighted in the practice of meditative absorption, very learned, with mental defilements shaken off.
404.
They, having walked for almsfood, having finished the meal, with washed bowls;
Comfortably seated in a secluded place, uttered these words.
405.
"You are lovely, lady, Isidāsī, and your youth is not fallen away;
Having seen what fault, then were you engaged in renunciation?"
406.
Being thus questioned, she, skilled in teaching the Dhamma in a secluded place;
Isidāsī spoke these words, "Listen Bodhī, how I went forth.
407.
"In the excellent city of Ujjenī, my father was a millionaire restrained in morality;
I was his only daughter, dear, agreeable, and beloved.
408.
Then suitors came to me from Sāketa, of the highest lineage;
A millionaire with abundant wealth, to him my father gave me as daughter-in-law.
409.
"To my mother-in-law and father-in-law, evening and morning, having approached with salutation;
With my head I do homage at their feet, I pay respect as I have been instructed.
410.
"Whoever were my husband's sisters, brothers or attendants;
Having seen even one of them, agitated I give a seat.
411.
"With food and drink, with hard food and whatever is placed there;
I conceal and bring near, and I give what is suitable for whom.
412.
"Having attended at the proper time, I approach the house at the threshold;
Washing hands and feet, with joined palms I go to my husband.
413.
"Having taken comb, cosmetics, eye ointment, and mirror;
Like a personal attendant, I myself adorn my husband.
414.
I myself prepare the cooked rice, I myself washing the vessel;
Like a mother her only son, so I attend to my husband.
415.
"Though I was thus devoted, affectionate, industrious, and humble,
Active and not lazy, virtuous - my husband became angry with me.
416.
"He speaks to mother and father, 'Having asked permission, I shall go;
With Isidāsī I shall not dwell, in one house with her I shall not live.'
417.
"'Do not speak thus, son, Isidāsī is wise and experienced;
Industrious and not lazy, why does she not please you, son?'
418.
"'She does not harm me in anything, yet with Isidāsī I shall not dwell;
She is disagreeable to me, enough for me, without asking I shall go.'
419.
"Having heard his word, my mother-in-law and father-in-law asked me:
'What wrong has been done by you? Speak freely, as it really is.'
420.
"'I do not offend in anything, nor do I harm nor speak harsh words;
What can be done, lady, when my husband feels enmity towards me?'
421.
They led me back to my father's house, displeased and overcome by suffering;
'While protecting our son, we have lost a beautiful fortune.'
422.
Then my father gave me to the house of a wealthy man, a second man of good family;
For half the price by which you, millionaire, obtained me.
423.
"In his house too I lived for a month, then he too rejected me;
Though I attended on him like a slave, blameless and accomplished in morality.
424.
"My father speaks to one wandering for alms, a tamer, tamed:
'You will be my son-in-law, put down the cloth and the bowl.'
425.
"He too, having stayed a fortnight, then speaks to father, 'Give me my cloth;
And the bowl and the vessel, I shall walk for almsfood again.'
426.
Then my father, mother, and all my group of relatives spoke to him:
'What is not done for you here? Speak quickly, that will be done for you.'
427.
"Thus spoken to, he speaks, 'If my self is able, enough for me;
With Isidāsī I shall not dwell, in one house with her I shall not live.'
428.
"Dismissed, he went, and I alone pondered;
'Having asked permission I shall go, either to die or to go forth.'
429.
"Then the lady Jinadattā came, walking for her food resort;
To my father's family, a bearer of the discipline, very learned, accomplished in morality.
430.
Having seen her at our home, I rose and prepared a seat for her;
And having paid homage at her feet while she was seated, I gave her food.
431.
"With food and drink, with hard food and whatever is placed there;
Having satisfied her, I said, 'Lady, I wish to go forth.'
432.
Then my father spoke to me: "Right here, dear son, practise the Teaching;
With food and drink, satisfy ascetics and brahmins."
433.
"Then I speak to father, weeping, having extended joined palms in salutation;
'For evil was done by me, that action I will destroy.'
434.
Then my father spoke to me: "Attain enlightenment and the foremost teaching;
And may you obtain Nibbāna, which the foremost of bipeds realized."
435.
"Having paid respect to my mother and father, and to all the groups of relatives;
Seven days after going forth, I attained the three true knowledges.
436.
"I know my own seven births, of which this is the resultant fruit;
That I shall tell you, listen to that with undivided mind.
437.
"In the city of Erakaccha, I was a goldsmith with abundant wealth;
Intoxicated by the pride of youth, I resorted to another's wife.
438.
"I, having passed away from there, was cooked in hell for a long time;
Having risen from there when fully cooked, I entered the womb of a female monkey.
439.
"When I was seven days old, the great monkey, the leader of the herd, castrated me;
This is the fruit of that action, just as I had gone to another's wife.
440.
"I, having passed away from there, having died in the Sindh forest;
I entered the womb of a she-goat, one-eyed and lame.
441.
"For twelve years I, having been castrated, carried children on my back;
Afflicted by worms, unhealthy, just as I had gone to another's wife.
442.
"I, having passed away from there, was born as a cow of a cattle dealer;
A calf, copper-coloured like lac, castrated at twelve months.
443.
"Having drawn the plough, I bear the cart;
Blind and afflicted, unhealthy, just as I had gone to another's wife.
444.
"I, having passed away from there, was born in the house of a female slave on the street;
Neither a woman nor a man, just as I had gone to another's wife.
445.
"Having died at thirty years, I was born as a girl in a carter's family;
In a poor one with little wealth, beset by many creditors.
446.
"Me, from there, the caravan leader, with abundant, extensive interest;
Drags away wailing, having taken by force from the family home.
447.
Then in my sixteenth year, having seen me as a maiden who had reached youth;
The son of Orundhata, Giridāsa by name.
448.
"He too had another wife, moral, virtuous, and famous;
Devoted to her husband - towards her I caused enmity.
449.
"This is the fruit of that action, that having cast me aside they go;
Though I attended on him like a slave, an end to that too has been made by me."
...
The Elder Nun Isidāsī...
The Book of Forties is concluded.