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Previous Chapter 14. The Book of the Thirties

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.

Next Chapter 16. The Great Book
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