13.
The Book of the Twenties
1.
Verses of the Elder Nun Ambapālī
Now through ageing, like hemp fibres, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now through ageing, it smells like animal hair, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
That, through ageing, sparse here and there, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
That head, through ageing, has been made bald, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now through ageing, hanging down with wrinkles, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
They, struck by ageing, are not beautiful, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now through ageing, as if shrivelled, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now through ageing, hanging down with wrinkles, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now through ageing, broken and discoloured, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
That, through ageing, falters here and there, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now through ageing, broken and bent, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now through ageing, like withered trumpet-flower branches, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now through ageing, like roots and tubers, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Like water-skins they hang down, without water, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now it is covered with fine wrinkles, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now through ageing, like bamboo tubes, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now through ageing, like sesame stalks, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
Now through ageing, cracked and wrinkled, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise.
With its plaster fallen off, a house of ageing, the word of the truth-speaker is not otherwise."
... The Elder Nun Ambapālī...
2.
Verses of the Elder Nun Rohinī
You praise only ascetics, surely you will become a female ascetic.
Rohinī, now I ask you, why are the ascetics dear to you?
Hopeful, lovers of sweet things, why are the ascetics dear to you?"
I will explain to you their wisdom, morality and effort.
They abandon lust and hate, therefore the ascetics are dear to me.
All evil has been abandoned by them, therefore the ascetics are dear to me.
Their mental action is pure, therefore the ascetics are dear to me.
Full of bright qualities, therefore the ascetics are dear to me.
They teach the meaning and the Teaching, therefore the ascetics are dear to me.
With unified minds, mindful, therefore the ascetics are dear to me.
They understand the end of suffering, therefore the ascetics are dear to me.
They go without longing, therefore the ascetics are dear to me.
Seeking what is already prepared, therefore the ascetics are dear to me.
They sustain themselves with the present, therefore the ascetics are dear to me.
They hold each other dear, therefore the ascetics are dear to me."
With faith in the Buddha and the Teaching, and with keen respect for the Community.
These ascetics accept offerings from us too."
If you fear suffering, if suffering is unpleasant to you.
Take upon yourself the moralities, that will be for your benefit."
I take upon myself the moralities, that will be for my benefit."
I am a possessor of the threefold true knowledge, a learned one, one who has attained the highest knowledge, one who has bathed."
... The Elder Nun Rohinī...
3.
Verses of the Elder Nun Cāpā
Through hope he sank into a terrible mire, he was not able to reach the beyond.
Having cut the bond to Cāpā, I shall go forth again."
For indeed, for one afflicted by wrath, there is no purity, how much less austere asceticism.
Binding ascetics living righteously by the Teaching with her womanly form."
Both I and my relatives are brought under your control."
For a man attached to you, that would indeed be lofty."
Like a pomegranate sapling in full bloom, like a trumpet-flower tree within an island.
Me, such a beautiful one, having left behind, for whose sake do you go?"
With this contrived appearance, you will not ensnare me."
Me, such a one with a son, having left behind, for whose sake do you go?"
Great heroes go forth, like an elephant having cut its bond."
Or I will dash him to the ground; you will not go because of sorrow for your son."
You will not make me return for the sake of a child, wretched one."
To which village and market town, city or royal capital?"
We wandered from village to village, to cities and royal capitals.
For the abandoning of all suffering, he teaches the Teaching to living beings;
I am going to his presence, he will be my Teacher."
And having circumambulated him, you should dedicate the offering."
Now I shall pay homage for you to the unsurpassed lord of the world;
And having circumambulated him, I shall dedicate the offering."
He saw the Self-enlightened One, teaching the Deathless state.
The noble eightfold path, leading to the peace of suffering.
Having dedicated the offering to Cāpā, I went forth into homelessness;
The three true knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
... The Elder Nun Cāpā...
4.
Verses of the Elder Nun Sundarī
You by day and by night, grieve exceedingly.
Vāseṭṭhi, by what reason do you not grieve excessively?"
Were consumed in the past, both mine and yours, brahmin.
I do not grieve, I do not weep, nor did I worry."
Whose Teaching have you understood, that you speak such an utterance?"
For the abandoning of all suffering, he taught the Teaching to living beings.
There having cognised the Good Teaching, I dispelled my sorrow for my son."
Perhaps that Blessed One may release me from all suffering."
He taught him the Teaching, the sage who has gone beyond suffering.
The noble eightfold path, leading to the peace of suffering.
Sujāta, within three nights, touched the three true knowledges.
Tell the brahmin woman of good health, 'The brahmin has now gone forth;
Sujāta, within three nights, touched the three true knowledges.'"
Told the brahmin woman of good health, "The brahmin has now gone forth;
Sujāta, within three nights, touched the three true knowledges."
Having heard of the brahmin with the threefold true knowledge, I give you a gift."
I too shall go forth, in the presence of the one of excellent wisdom."
Your father has gone forth, enjoy the possessions, Sundarī; You are the heiress in the family."
My father has gone forth, distressed by sorrow for his son;
Almsfood obtained by standing up and gleaning, and a rag robe;
Accomplishing these, in the world beyond, without mental corruptions."
I know past lives, where I dwelt before.
The three true knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
I shall roar the lion's roar in the presence of the Buddha, the foremost."
The tamer of the untamed, the self-enlightened, safe from every quarter."
Without lust, unbound, having performed one's obligations, without mental corruptions.
Your female disciple, O Great Hero, Sundarī pays homage at your feet."
A legitimate one, born from your mouth, who has done what was to be done, without mental corruptions."
For thus indeed the tamed ones come, to pay homage at the Teacher's feet;
Without lust, unbound, who have done what was to be done, without mental corruptions."
... The Elder Nun Sundarī...
5.
Verses of the Elder Nun Subhā, the Smith's Daughter
For me, being heedful, there was full realization of the truths.
Having seen fear in identity, I longed only for renunciation.
Prosperous villages and fields, delightful and joyful.
Thus having left through faith, when the Good Teaching is well proclaimed.
Who, having abandoned gold and silver, would come back again.
This is not lawful for an ascetic, this is not noble wealth.
Dangerous, full of trouble, and here there is no stable duration.
Mutually opposed, they make quarrels far and wide.
For those afflicted by sensual pleasures, much disaster is seen.
Know me as one gone forth, seeing danger in sensual pleasures.
Sensual pleasures are enemies, murderers, foes, binding darts.
Know me as one gone forth, shaven-headed, wrapped in the double robe.
This indeed is suitable for me, a resource for the homeless one.
Liberated in the secure place, they have attained unshakeable happiness.
Sensual pleasures are enemies, murderers, like a mass of fire, painful.
Greed, very uneven, and this is great, with delusion as its entrance.
Those fools who delight in them, worldlings who have become blind.
They do not know the limit of birth and of death.
Many indeed proceed along it, bringing disease upon themselves.
Worldly gains are binding, sensual pleasures are bonds to death.
For the defilement of beings, quickly laid as a snare by Māra.
Of little enjoyment, conflict-causing, drying up the bright side.
I will not return to that, always delighting in Nibbāna.
Diligent I shall dwell, at the destruction of all fetters.
That path I follow, by which the great sages have crossed over."
Having attained that without longing, she meditates at the root of a tree.
Trained by Uppalavaṇṇā, possessing the threefold true knowledge, victorious over death.
Unbound from all mental bonds, who has done what was to be done, without mental corruptions.
The lord of beings pays homage to Subhā, the smith's daughter.
... The Elder Nun Subhā, the Smith's Daughter...
The Book of Twenties is concluded.