Thi Ap 14Ekāsanadāyikā

– Therīpadāna

– The Legends of the Therīs

14. Ekāsanadāyikā

Walt 166 In the city, Haṁsavatī,

I was a garland-maker then.

My mother and my father too

went off to work every day then . Verse 1

Walt 167 When the sun was high in the sky,

I saw a Buddhist monk just then,

who was going along the road,

so I spread out a seat for him . Verse 2

Walt 168 Preparing that seat with woolen

rugs with fleece and decorations,

happy, with pleasure in my heart,

I then spoke these words to that monk : Verse 3

Walt 169 “The ground is scorched and boiling hot;

the sun is at its midday high;

the breezes are not blowing now ;

the time is right to come sit down. Verse 4

Walt 170 This seat already is prepared

just for your sake, o sage so great;

having taken pity on me,

please sit down on this seat of mine.” Verse 5

Walt 171 The monk, well-tamed, with a pure mind,

did sit down there at my request .

Having taken his begging bowl,

I gave as much as it would hold. Verse 6

Walt 172 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 7

Walt 173 There my well-made divine mansion,

well-fashioned by giving that seat,

welled up full sixty leagues in height,

and was thirty leagues wide back then . Verse 8

Walt 174 There were diverse couches for me,

made of gold and made of silver,

likewise some were made of crystal,

and also made out of ruby. Verse 9

Walt 175 My couch was well-spread with cushions,

covered with embroidered wool rugs

and coverlets of silk with gems,

as well as some of fur with fringe. Verse 10

Walt 176 Whenever I desire a trip,

filled with laughter and amusement,

I am going with the best couch,

in accordance with my wishes. Verse 11

Walt 177 I was fixed in the chief queen’s place

of eighty kings among the gods.

I was fixed in the chief queen’s place

of seventy wheel-turning kings. Verse 12

Walt 178 Transmigrating from birth to birth,

I always obtained great riches.

There was no lack in terms of wealth:

that’s the fruit of giving one seat. Verse 13

Walt 179 Transmigrating in two stations,

the human or else the divine,

I did not know another state:

that’s the fruit of giving one seat. Verse 14

Walt 180 I am reborn in just two castes,

kṣatriyan, or else a brahmin.

Everywhere I’m of high family:

that’s the fruit of giving one seat. Verse 15

Walt 181 I know no mental turbulence,

nor is my heart tormented then .

I also know no ugliness:

that’s the fruit of giving one seat. Verse 16

Walt 182 Wet-nurses are waiting on me,

and many hump-backed servant-women;

I am going from lap to lap:

that’s the fruit of giving one seat. Verse 17

Walt 183 Other people bathe and feed me,

and they fondle me every day.

Others anoint me with perfumes:

that’s the fruit of giving one seat. Verse 18

Walt 184 When I dwell in an empty room,

a pavilion, beneath a tree,

discerning what I am thinking,

a couch is then produced for me . Verse 19

Walt 185 Now it is my final lifetime,

turning in my last existence.

Even today, breaking my reign,

I went forth into homelessness. Verse 20

Walt 186 In the hundred thousand aeons

since I gave him that gift back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of giving one seat. Verse 21

Walt 187 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 22

Walt 188 Being in Best Buddha's presence

was a very good thing for me.

The three knowledges are attained;

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 23

Walt 189 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 24

Thus indeed Venerable Bhikkhunī Ekāsanadāyikā spoke these verses.

The legend of Ekāsanadāyikā Therī is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

Legends of the Buddhist Saints (Apadāna) is released under the Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike license.

This is the first-ever complete translation of Apadāna into a Western language.

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