1.1“Kāḷakā bhamaravaṇṇasādisā,My hair was as black as bees,1.2Vellitaggā mama muddhajā ahuṁ;graced with curly tips;1.3Te jarāya sāṇavākasādisā,now old, it has become like hemp bark—1.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

2.1Vāsitova surabhī karaṇḍako,Crowned with flowers,2.2Pupphapūra mama uttamaṅgajo;my head was as fragrant as a perfume box;2.3Taṁ jarāyatha salomagandhikaṁ,now old, it smells like dog fur—2.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

3.1Kānanaṁva sahitaṁ suropitaṁ,My hair was as thick as a well-planted forest,3.2Kocchasūcivicitaggasobhitaṁ;it shone, parted with brush and pins;3.3Taṁ jarāya viralaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ,now old, it’s patchy and sparse—3.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

4.1Kaṇhakhandhakasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitaṁ,With plaits of black and ribbons of gold,4.2Sobhate suveṇīhilaṅkataṁ;it was so pretty, graced with braids;4.3Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ siraṁ kataṁ,now old, my head’s gone bald—4.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

5.1Cittakārasukatāva lekhikā,My eyebrows used to look so nice,5.2Sobhare su bhamukā pure mama;like crescents painted by an artist;5.3Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā,now old, they droop with wrinkles—5.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

6.1Bhassarā surucirā yathā maṇī,My eyes shone brilliant as gems,6.2Nettahesumabhinīlamāyatā;wide and indigo;6.3Te jarāyabhihatā na sobhare,ruined by age, they shine no more—6.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

7.1Saṇhatuṅgasadisī ca nāsikā,My nose was like a perfect peak,7.2Sobhate su abhiyobbanaṁ pati;lovely in my bloom of youth;7.3Sā jarāya upakūlitā viya,now old, it’s shriveled like a pepper;7.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

8.1Kaṅkaṇaṁva sukataṁ suniṭṭhitaṁ,My ear-lobes were so pretty,8.2Sobhare su mama kaṇṇapāḷiyo;like lovingly crafted bracelets;8.3Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā,now old, they droop with wrinkles—8.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

9.1Pattalīmakulavaṇṇasādisā,My teeth used to be so pretty,9.2Sobhare su dantā pure mama;bright as a jasmine flower;9.3Te jarāya khaṇḍitā cāsitā,now old, they’re broken and yellow—9.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

10.1Kānanamhi vanasaṇḍacārinī,My singing was sweet as a cuckoo10.2Kokilāva madhuraṁ nikūjihaṁ;wandering in the forest groves;10.3Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ,now old, it’s patchy and croaking—10.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

11.1Saṇhakamburiva suppamajjitā,My neck used to be so pretty,11.2Sobhate su gīvā pure mama;like a polished shell of conch;11.3Sā jarāya bhaggā vināmitā,now old, it’s bowed and bent—11.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

12.1Vaṭṭapalighasadisopamā ubho,My arms used to be so pretty,12.2Sobhare su bāhā pure mama;like rounded cross-bars;12.3Tā jarāya yatha pāṭalibbalitā,with age, they wrinkle and sag as a patala tree—¹12.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

13.1Saṇhamuddikasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā,My hands used to be so pretty,13.2Sobhare su hatthā pure mama;graced with lovely golden rings;13.3Te jarāya yathā mūlamūlikā,now old, they’re like red radishes—13.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

14.1Pīnavaṭṭasahituggatā ubho,My breasts were both once so pretty,14.2Sobhare su thanakā pure mama;swelling, round, close-set, and perky;14.3Thevikīva lambanti nodakā,now they droop like water bags—14.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

15.1Kañcanassa phalakaṁva sammaṭṭhaṁ,My body used to be so pretty,15.2Sobhate su kāyo pure mama;like a polished slab of lustrous gold;15.3So valīhi sukhumāhi otato,now it’s covered with delicate wrinkles—15.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

16.1Nāgabhogasadisopamā ubho,Both my thighs used to be so pretty,16.2Sobhare su ūrū pure mama;like an elephant’s trunk;16.3Te jarāya yathā veḷunāḷiyo,now old, they’re like bamboo—16.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

17.1Saṇhanūpurasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā,My calves used to be so pretty,17.2Sobhare su jaṅghā pure mama;graced with cute golden anklets;17.3Tā jarāya tiladaṇḍakāriva,now old, they’re like sesame sticks—17.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

18.1Tūlapuṇṇasadisopamā ubho,Both my feet used to be so pretty,18.2Sobhare su pādā pure mama;plump as if with cotton-wool;18.3Te jarāya phuṭitā valīmatā,now old, they’re cracked and wrinkly—18.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

19.1Ediso ahu ayaṁ samussayo,This bag of bones once was such,19.2Jajjaro bahudukkhānamālayo;but now it’s withered, home to so much pain;19.3Sopalepapatito jarāgharo,like a house in decay with plaster crumbling—19.4Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā”.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

20.1… Ambapālī therī ….