Thi Ap 22Kisāgotamī

– Therīpadāna

– The Legends of the Therīs

22. Kisāgotamī

Walt 693 The Victor, Padumuttara,

was a Master of Everything.

That Leader arose in the world

one hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 694 I then lived in Haṁsavatī,

born in an undistinguished clan.

Having approached the Best of Men,

I went to him as my refuge. Verse 2

Walt 695 And I listened to his Dhamma ,

containing the Four Noble Truths,

supremely sweet like honey, which

brings happiness and mental peace. Verse 3

Walt 696 One time the Hero, the Buddha,

was placing in that foremost place

a Buddhist nun who wore rough robes;

he praised her, the Ultimate Man. Verse 4

Walt 697 Producing not a little joy,

hearing that Buddhist nun’s virtue,

doing service for the Buddha,

according to powers and strengths, Verse 5

Walt 698 bowing down to that Hero-Sage,

I aspired to attain that place.

The Sambuddha approved of that

attainment of that foremost place, Verse 6

Walt 699 “In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 7

Walt 700 Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma ,

Dhamma ’s legitimate offspring,

the one named Kisāgotamī

will be the Teacher’s follower.” Verse 8

Walt 701 At that time being overjoyed,

as long as life, heart full of love,

I attended on the Victor,

the Guide, providing requisites. Verse 9

Walt 702 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 10

Walt 703 In this present lucky aeon,

Brahma’s Kinsman, Greatly Famed One,

the Buddha known as Kassapa

was born, the Best of Debaters. Verse 11

Walt 704 The attendant of the Great Sage

was the ruler of men back then,

the king of Kāsi, named Kiki,

in Benares, greatest city. Verse 12

Walt 705 I was his fifth royal daughter,

well-known by the name of Dhammā.

Hearing the Best Victor’s Teaching,

I chose to seek ordination. Verse 13

Walt 706-707 Our father did not permit it;

we stayed at home during that time,

comfortable royal maidens

doing our practice with vigor

in virginal celibacy,

for twenty times a thousand years,

fond of waiting on the Buddha,

the king’s seven joyful daughters. Verse 14-15

Walt 708 Samaṇī, and Samaṇaguttā,

Bhikkhunī, Bhikkhadāyikā,

Dhammā, and also Sudhammā,

and seventh Saṅghadāyikā, Verse 16

Walt 709 now Khemā, Uppalavaṇṇā,

Paṭācārā and Kuṇḍalā,

the nun Dhammadinnā and I

and Visākhā is the seventh. Verse 17

Walt 710 Due to those karmas done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 18

Walt 711 And now, in my final rebirth,

I’m born in a millionaire’s clan,

poor, without wealth, unprosperous,

but married into a rich clan. Verse 19

Walt 712 Except my husband, the others

are pointing at me saying, “Poor!”

But after I became with child,

then I was loved by all of them. Verse 20

Walt 713 When that lucky young boy of mine,

tender-bodied, comfortable,

as dear to me as my own breath,

then fell into Yama’s power, Verse 21

Walt 714 grief-struck, voicing my misery,

teary-eyed, my mouth crying out,

carrying that young boy’s dead corpse,

I’m going around lamenting. Verse 22

Walt 715 Then examined by one doctor,

approaching the Best Physician,

I said, “give me a medicine

to bring my son back to life, Sir.” Verse 23

Walt 716 The Victor, Skilled in Crafty Speech,

said, “bring me a white mustard seed,

collected in whichever home

where people dying is not known.” Verse 24

Walt 717 Then having gone to Śrāvasti,

not encountering such a house,

where could I get white mustard seed?

Thereupon I gained mindfulness. Verse 25

Walt 718 Throwing away my baby’s corpse,

I went up to the World’s Leader.

Having seen me from a distance

the Sweet-Voiced One then said to me . Verse 26

Walt 719 “Better than a hundred years’ life,

not seeing how things rise and fall,

is living for a single day,

seeing things rising and falling. Verse 27

Walt 720 Not the condition of the village, or the town,

and also not the condition of one clan.

This is the condition of the entire world

with its gods: the impermanence of all that is.” Verse 28

Walt 721 Upon hearing those two verses,

I purified my “ Dhamma eye,”

then learned in the great Teaching,

I went forth into homelessness. Verse 29

Walt 722 Then being one who had gone forth,

engaged in the dispensation,

after not a very long time,

I attained my arahantship. Verse 30

Walt 723 I’ve mastered the superpowers

like the “divine ear” element.

I know the hearts of others too,

I have done what the Teacher taught. Verse 31

Walt 724 I remember my former lives;

my “divine eye” is purified.

Throwing off all the defilements,

I am purified, I’m stainless. Verse 32

Walt 725 The Teacher’s been worshipped by me;

I have done what the Buddha taught.

The heavy load has been laid down,

the ties to existence severed. Verse 33

Walt 726 The reason for which I went forth,

from my home into homelessness —

I have now achieved that purpose:

destruction of all the fetters. Verse 34

Walt 727 In meaning and in the Teaching,

etymology and preaching,

my knowledge is vast and flawless,

through the Great Sage’s majesty. Verse 35

Walt 728 I am wearing robes which are rough,

my saṅghāṭi being made of

a shroud picked up and brought from a

cemetery along the road. Verse 36

Walt 729 The Victor, pleased by my virtue,

the Guide, among the multitudes,

then placed me in the foremost place

of those who wear robes which are rough. Verse 37

Walt 730 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 38

Walt 731 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 39

Walt 732 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 40

Thus indeed Bhikkhunī Kisāgotamī spoke these verses.

The legend of Kisāgotamī Therī is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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