Thi Ap 16Sālamālikā

– Therīpadāna

– The Legends of the Therīs

16. Sālamālikā

Walt 215 On Candabhāgā River’s bank,

I was a kinnarī back then.

I saw the Stainless One, Buddha,

the Self-Become, Unconquered One. Verse 1

Walt 216 Happy, with pleasure in my heart,

awe-struck, with hands pressed together,

taking a sal -flower garland,

I worshipped the Self-Become One. Verse 2

Walt 217 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 3

Walt 218 I was fixed in the chief queen’s place

of thirty-six kings of the gods.

Whatever my mind wishes for,

comes into being as desired. Verse 4

Walt 219 I was fixed in the chief queen’s place

of ten kings who were wheel-turners.

Being a good-minded woman,

I transmigrated through lifetimes. Verse 5

Walt 220 My wholesomeness is apparent;

I went forth into homelessness.

Today I’m worthy of pūjā

in the Buddha’s dispensation. Verse 6

Walt 221 Today, with my mind purified,

the evil-minded one is gone.

All my defilements are destroyed;

now there will be no more rebirth. Verse 7

Walt 223 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 8

Walt 224 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 9

Walt 225 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 10

Walt 222 In the ninety-four aeons since

I worshipped the Buddha back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of a sal -garland. Verse 11

My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

All my defilements are destroyed;

now there will be no more rebirth. Verse 12

Thus indeed Bhikkhunī Sālamālikā spoke these verses.

The legend of Sālamālikā 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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