Not even for a finger-snap's moment, did I attain peace of mind.

Having raised my arms, crying out, I entered the dwelling.

She expounded the Teaching to me, the aggregates, sense bases, and elements.

I know past lives, the divine eye has been purified.

Supernormal power has been realised by me, the elimination of mental corruptions has been attained by me;

The six higher knowledges have been realised, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."

And stiff with youth, I despised other women.

I stood at the harlot's door, like a hunter having spread a snare.

I practised various deceit, laughing aloud at many people.

Seated at the root of a tree, an obtainer of that without applied thought.

Having eliminated all mental corruptions, I have become cool, quenched."

I was agitated before, not having control over my mind.

I did not obtain tranquillity of mind, subjected to the control of a lustful mind.

Neither by day nor by night did I find happiness, being greatly afflicted.

Better for me is hanging here, than to practise what is inferior again.

I threw the snare around my neck, thereupon my mind was liberated."

Develop the mind towards foulness, fully focused, well concentrated.

Foul-smelling and putrid it blows, delighted in by the foolish.

Then with my own wisdom, having broken through, I shall see.

This body was seen as it really is, within and without.

Diligent, unbound, I am at peace, quenched."

Having gone to the river fords, I descended into the water.

I make my sleeping place on the ground, at night I did not eat a meal.

I tended to this body, distressed by sensual lust.

Having seen the body as it really is, sensual lust was uprooted.

Unbound from all mental bonds, I have attained peace of mind."

I wandered here and there, eager for material gain and honour.

Having come under the control of defilements, I did not understand the goal of asceticism.

I had gone astray, having come under the control of craving.

Before this body breaks up, there is no time for me to be negligent.

With liberated mind I arose, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."

I saw the stainless Teaching, Nibbāna, the imperishable state.

Having had my hair cut off, I went forth into homelessness.

I abandoned lust and hate, and the co-existent mental corruptions.

The divine eye has been purified, spotless, well developed.

I abandoned all mental corruptions, I have become cool, quenched."

Then I, weak and old, approached a nun.

Having heard the teaching from her, having cut off my hair, I went forth.

I know past lives, where I dwelt before.

I was one with immediate deliverance, quenched by non-clinging.

Fie on you, wretched, contemptible ageing, there is now no more rebirth."

Perceiving fault in the faultless, and seeing the faulty as faultless.

I saw the stainless Buddha, honoured by the community of monks.

'Come, Bhadda,' he said to me, that was my full ordination.

Free of debt for fifty years, I have eaten food obtained from the people.

Who gave a robe to Bhaddā, free from all mental knots."

Nourishing children and wife, young men gain wealth.

Not attain Nibbāna, being not lazy, not agitated?

And having seen the foot-water, flowing from high ground to low.

Then having taken a lamp, I entered the dwelling;

Having looked at the sleeping place, I sat down on the small bed.

Like the extinguishing of a lamp, there was deliverance of the mind."

Nourishing children and wife, young men gain wealth.

Quickly having washed your feet, sit down on one side;

Engaged in serenity of mind, practise the Buddha's teaching."

Having washed their feet, they sat down to one side;

Engaged in serenity of mind, they practised the Buddha's teaching.

In the middle watch of the night, they purified the divine eye;

In the last watch of the night, they shattered the mass of darkness.

Like the deities of the Thirty-three honour Indra, unconquered in battle;

Having put you in front, we shall dwell, we are possessors of the threefold true knowledge, without mental corruptions."

Without friends and relatives, I did not obtain food and cloth.

Burning with cold and heat, for seven years I wandered.

Having approached, I said, 'The going forth into homelessness'.

Then having exhorted me, she urged me towards the supreme goal.

The lady's exhortation was not futile, I am a possessor of the threefold true knowledge, without mental corruptions."