0.3IsidāsītherīgāthāIsidāsī
1.1Nagaramhi kusumanāme,In Pāṭaliputta, the cream of the world,1.2Pāṭaliputtamhi pathaviyā maṇḍe;the city named for a flower,1.3Sakyakulakulīnāyo,there were two nuns from the Sakyan clan,1.4Dve bhikkhuniyo hi guṇavatiyo.both of them ladies of quality.
2.1Isidāsī tattha ekā,One was named Isidāsī, the second Bodhī.2.2Dutiyā bodhīti sīlasampannā ca;They both were accomplished in ethics,2.3Jhānajjhāyanaratāyo,lovers of meditation and chanting,2.4Bahussutāyo dhutakilesāyo.learned, crushing corruptions.
3.1Tā piṇḍāya caritvā,They wandered for alms and had their meal.3.2Bhattatthaṁ kariya dhotapattāyo;When they had washed their bowls,3.3Rahitamhi sukhanisinnā,they sat happily in a private place3.4Imā girā abbhudīresuṁ.and started a conversation.
4.1“Pāsādikāsi ayye,“You’re so lovely, Mistress Isidāsī,4.2Isidāsi vayopi te aparihīno;your youth has not yet faded.4.3Kiṁ disvāna byālikaṁ,What problem did you see that made you4.4Athāsi nekkhammamanuyuttā”.dedicate your life to renunciation?”
5.1Evamanuyuñjiyamānā sā,Being pressed like this in private,5.2Rahite dhammadesanākusalā;Isidāsī, skilled in teaching Dhamma,5.3Isidāsī vacanamabravi,voiced the following words.5.4“Suṇa bodhi yathāmhi pabbajitā”.“Bodhī, hear how I went forth.
6.1“Ujjeniyā puravare,In the fine town of Ujjenī,16.2Mayhaṁ pitā sīlasaṁvuto seṭṭhi;my father was a financier, a good and moral man.6.3Tassamhi ekadhītā,I was his only daughter,6.4Piyā manāpā ca dayitā ca.dear, beloved, and cherished.
7.1Atha me sāketato varakā,Then some suitors came for me7.2Āgacchumuttamakulīnā;from the top family of Sāketa.27.3Seṭṭhī pahūtaratano,They were sent by a financier abounding in wealth,7.4Tassa mamaṁ suṇhamadāsi tāto.to whom my father then gave me as daughter-in-law.
8.1Sassuyā sasurassa ca,Come morning and come evening,8.2Sāyaṁ pātaṁ paṇāmamupagamma;I bowed with my head to the feet8.3Sirasā karomi pāde,of my father and mother-in-law,8.4Vandāmi yathāmhi anusiṭṭhā.just as I had been told.
9.1Yā mayhaṁ sāmikassa,Whenever I saw my husband’s sisters,9.2Bhaginiyo bhātuno parijano vā;his brothers, his servants,9.3Tamekavarakampi disvā,or even he, my one and only,9.4Ubbiggā āsanaṁ demi.I nervously gave them a seat.
10.1Annena ca pānena ca,Whatever they wanted—food and drink,10.2Khajjena ca yañca tattha sannihitaṁ;treats, or whatever was in the cupboard—10.3Chādemi upanayāmi ca,I brought out and offered to them,10.4Demi ca yaṁ yassa patirūpaṁ.ensuring each got what was fitting.
11.1Kālena upaṭṭhahitvā,Having risen bright and early,11.2Gharaṁ samupagamāmi ummāre;I approached the main house,11.3Dhovantī hatthapāde,washed my hands and feet,11.4Pañjalikā sāmikamupemi.and went to my husband with cupped palms.
12.1Kocchaṁ pasādaṁ añjaniñca,Taking a comb, adornments,12.2Ādāsakañca gaṇhitvā;eyeshadow, and a mirror,12.3Parikammakārikā viya,I myself did the makeup for my husband,12.4Sayameva patiṁ vibhūsemi.as if I were his beautician.
13.1Sayameva odanaṁ sādhayāmi,I myself cooked the rice;13.2Sayameva bhājanaṁ dhovantī;I myself washed the pots.13.3Mātāva ekaputtakaṁ,I looked after my husband13.4Tathā bhattāraṁ paricarāmi.like a mother her only child.
14.1Evaṁ maṁ bhattikataṁ,Thus I showed my devotion to him,314.2Anurattaṁ kārikaṁ nihatamānaṁ;a loyal, virtuous, and humble servant,14.3Uṭṭhāyikaṁ analasaṁ,getting up early, and working tirelessly:14.4Sīlavatiṁ dussate bhattā.yet still my husband did me wrong.
15.1So mātarañca pitarañca,He said to his mother and father:15.2Bhaṇati ‘āpucchahaṁ gamissāmi;‘I’ll take my leave and go,15.3Isidāsiyā na saha vacchaṁ,I can’t stand to live together with Isidāsī15.4Ekāgārehaṁ saha vatthuṁ’.staying in the same house.’
16.1‘Mā evaṁ putta avaca,‘Son, don’t speak like this!16.2Isidāsī paṇḍitā paribyattā;Isidāsī is astute and competent,16.3Uṭṭhāyikā analasā,she gets up early and works tirelessly,16.4Kiṁ tuyhaṁ na rocate putta’.son, why doesn’t she please you?’
17.1‘Na ca me hiṁsati kiñci,‘She hasn’t done anything to hurt me,17.2Na cahaṁ isidāsiyā saha vacchaṁ;but I just can’t stand to live with her.17.3Dessāva me alaṁ me,As far as I’m concerned, she’s just detestable.17.4Apucchāhaṁ gamissāmi’.I’ve had enough, I’ll take my leave and go.’
18.1Tassa vacanaṁ suṇitvā,When they heard his words,18.2Sassu sasuro ca maṁ apucchiṁsu;my father-in-law and mother-in-law asked me:18.3‘Kissa tayā aparaddhaṁ,‘What did you do wrong?18.4Bhaṇa vissaṭṭhā yathābhūtaṁ’.Boldly tell how it occurred.’4
19.1‘Napihaṁ aparajjhaṁ kiñci,‘I’ve done nothing wrong,19.2Napi hiṁsemi na bhaṇāmi dubbacanaṁ;I haven’t hurt him, or said anything bad.19.3Kiṁ sakkā kātuyye,What can I possibly do,19.4Yaṁ maṁ viddessate bhattā’.when my husband finds me so hateful?’
20.1Te maṁ pitugharaṁ paṭinayiṁsu,They led me back to my father’s home,20.2Vimanā dukhena adhibhūtā;distraught, overcome with suffering, and said:20.3Puttamanurakkhamānā,‘By caring for our son,20.4‘Jitāmhase rūpiniṁ lakkhiṁ’.we’ve lost her, so lovely and lucky!’
21.1Atha maṁ adāsi tāto,Next my dad gave me to the household21.2Aḍḍhassa gharamhi dutiyakulikassa;of a second wealthy family-man.21.3Tato upaḍḍhasuṅkena,For this he got half the bride-price21.4Yena maṁ vindatha seṭṭhi.of that which the financier paid.
22.1Tassapi gharamhi māsaṁ,In his house I also lived a month,22.2Avasiṁ atha sopi maṁ paṭiccharayi;before he too wanted me gone;22.3Dāsīva upaṭṭhahantiṁ,though I served him like a slave,22.4Adūsikaṁ sīlasampannaṁ.virtuous and doing no wrong.
23.1Bhikkhāya ca vicarantaṁ,My father then spoke to a beggar for alms,23.2Damakaṁ dantaṁ me pitā bhaṇati;a tamer of others and of himself:23.3‘Hohisi me jāmātā,‘Be my son-in-law;23.4Nikkhipa poṭṭhiñca ghaṭikañca’.set aside your tonsure-cloth and pot.’5
24.1Sopi vasitvā pakkhaṁ,He stayed a fortnight before he said to my dad:24.2Atha tātaṁ bhaṇati ‘dehi me poṭṭhiṁ;‘Give me back my tonsure-cloth,24.3Ghaṭikañca mallakañca,my pot and my mug—624.4Punapi bhikkhaṁ carissāmi’.I’ll wander begging again.’
25.1Atha naṁ bhaṇatī tāto,So then my mum and my dad25.2Ammā sabbo ca me ñātigaṇavaggo;and my whole group of relatives said:25.3‘Kiṁ te na kīrati idha,‘What has not been done for you here?25.4Bhaṇa khippaṁ taṁ te karihi’ti.Quickly, tell us what we can do for you!’
26.1Evaṁ bhaṇito bhaṇati,When they spoke to him like this he said,26.2‘Yadi me attā sakkoti alaṁ mayhaṁ;‘If I can make do for myself, that is enough.26.3Isidāsiyā na saha vacchaṁ,I can’t stand to live together with Isidāsī26.4Ekagharehaṁ saha vatthuṁ’.staying in the same house.’
27.1Vissajjito gato so,Released, he left.27.2Ahampi ekākinī vicintemi;But I sat all alone contemplating:27.3‘Āpucchitūna gacchaṁ,‘Having taken my leave, I’ll go,27.4Marituye vā pabbajissaṁ vā’.either to die or to go forth.’
28.1Atha ayyā jinadattā,But then Mistress Jinadattā,28.2Āgacchī gocarāya caramānā;learned and virtuous,28.3Tātakulaṁ vinayadharī,who had memorized the monastic law,28.4Bahussutā sīlasampannā.came resorting to my dad’s house for alms.
29.1Taṁ disvāna amhākaṁ,When I saw her,29.2Uṭṭhāyāsanaṁ tassā paññāpayiṁ;I rose from my seat and prepared it for her.29.3Nisinnāya ca pāde,When she had taken her seat,29.4Vanditvā bhojanamadāsiṁ.I honored her feet and offered her a meal,
30.1Annena ca pānena ca,satiating her with food and drink,30.2Khajjena ca yañca tattha sannihitaṁ;treats, or whatever was in the cupboard.30.3Santappayitvā avacaṁ,Then I said:30.4‘Ayye icchāmi pabbajituṁ’.‘Ma’am, I wish to go forth!’
31.1Atha maṁ bhaṇatī tāto,But my dad said to me:31.2‘Idheva puttaka carāhi tvaṁ dhammaṁ;‘Child, practice Dhamma right here then!31.3Annena ca pānena ca,With food and drink31.4Tappaya samaṇe dvijātī ca’.satisfy ascetics and the twice-born.’7
32.1Athahaṁ bhaṇāmi tātaṁ,Then I said to my dad,32.2Rodantī añjaliṁ paṇāmetvā;crying, my cupped palms raised to him:32.3‘Pāpañhi mayā pakataṁ,‘I’ve done bad things in the past;32.4Kammaṁ taṁ nijjaressāmi’.I shall wear that bad deed away.’
33.1Atha maṁ bhaṇatī tāto,And my dad said to me:33.2‘Pāpuṇa bodhiñca aggadhammañca;‘May you attain awakening, the highest state,33.3Nibbānañca labhassu,and may you find the extinguishment33.4Yaṁ sacchikarī dvipadaseṭṭho’.that was realized by the best of men!’
34.1Mātāpitū abhivādayitvā,I bowed down to my mother and father,34.2Sabbañca ñātigaṇavaggaṁ;and my whole group of relatives;34.3Sattāhaṁ pabbajitā,and then, seven days after going forth,34.4Tisso vijjā aphassayiṁ.I realized the three knowledges.
35.1Jānāmi attano satta,I know my last seven lives;35.2Jātiyo yassayaṁ phalavipāko;I shall relate to you the deeds35.3Taṁ tava ācikkhissaṁ,of which this life is the fruit and result:35.4Taṁ ekamanā nisāmehi.focus your whole mind on that.
36.1Nagaramhi erakacche,In the city of Erakacca36.2Suvaṇṇakāro ahaṁ pahūtadhano;I was a goldsmith with lots of money.36.3Yobbanamadena matto,Drunk on the pride of youth,36.4So paradāraṁ asevihaṁ.I had sex with someone else’s wife.
37.1Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,Having passed away from there,37.2Nirayamhi apaccisaṁ ciraṁ;I burned in hell for a long time.37.3Pakko tato ca uṭṭhahitvā,Rising up from there37.4Makkaṭiyā kucchimokkamiṁ.I was conceived in a monkey’s womb.
38.1Sattāhajātakaṁ maṁ,When I was only seven days old,38.2Mahākapi yūthapo nillacchesi;I was castrated by the monkey chief.38.3Tassetaṁ kammaphalaṁ,This was the fruit of that deed,38.4Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.because of adultery with another’s wife.
39.1Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,Having passed away from there,39.2Kālaṁ karitvā sindhavāraññe;passing away in Sindhava grove,39.3Kāṇāya ca khañjāya ca,I was conceived in the womb39.4Eḷakiyā kucchimokkamiṁ.of a lame, one-eyed she-goat.
40.1Dvādasa vassāni ahaṁ,I carried children on my back for twelve years,40.2Nillacchito dārake parivahitvā;and all the while I was castrated,40.3Kimināvaṭṭo akallo,worm-eaten, and tail-less,40.4Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.because of adultery with another’s wife.
41.1Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,Having passed away from there,41.2Govāṇijakassa gāviyā jāto;I was reborn in a cow41.3Vaccho lākhātambo,owned by a cattle merchant.41.4Nillacchito dvādase māse.A red calf, castrated, for twelve months
42.1Voḍhūna naṅgalamahaṁ,I drew a big plow.42.2Sakaṭañca dhārayāmi;I shouldered a cart,42.3Andhovaṭṭo akallo,blind, tail-less, feeble,42.4Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.because of adultery with another’s wife.
43.1Sohaṁ tato cavitvā,Having passed away from there,43.2Vīthiyā dāsiyā ghare jāto;I was born of a slave in the street,43.3Neva mahilā na puriso,with neither male nor female parts,843.4Yathāpi gantvāna paradāraṁ.because of adultery with another’s wife.
44.1Tiṁsativassamhi mato,I died at thirty years of age,44.2Sākaṭikakulamhi dārikā jātā;and was reborn as a girl in a carter’s family.44.3Kapaṇamhi appabhoge,We were poor, of little wealth,44.4Dhanika purisapātabahulamhi.greatly oppressed by creditors.
45.1Taṁ maṁ tato satthavāho,Because of the massive interest we owed,45.2Ussannāya vipulāya vaḍḍhiyā;I was dragged away screaming,45.3Okaḍḍhati vilapantiṁ,taken by force from the family home45.4Acchinditvā kulagharasmā.by a caravan leader.
46.1Atha soḷasame vasse,When I was sixteen years old,46.2Disvā maṁ pattayobbanaṁ kaññaṁ;seeing I was a girl of marriageable age,946.3Orundhatassa putto,his son confined me as his wife—1046.4Giridāso nāma nāmena.Giridāsa was his name.
47.1Tassapi aññā bhariyā,He also had another wife,47.2Sīlavatī guṇavatī yasavatī ca;a virtuous and well-known lady of quality,47.3Anurattā bhattāraṁ,loyal to her husband;47.4Tassāhaṁ viddesanamakāsiṁ.yet I stirred up resentment in her.
48.1Tassetaṁ kammaphalaṁ,As the fruit of that deed,48.2Yaṁ maṁ apakīritūna gacchanti;they abandoned me and left,48.3Dāsīva upaṭṭhahantiṁ,though I served them like a slave.48.4Tassapi anto kato mayā”ti.Now I’ve made an end to this as well.”
49.1… Isidāsī therī ….
50.1Cattālīsanipāto niṭṭhito.