Thi Ap 25Nandā (Janapadakalyāṇi)

– Therīpadāna

– The Legends of the Therīs

25. Nandā (Janapadakalyāṇi)

Walt 804 The Victor, Padumuttara,

was a Master of Everything.

That Leader arose in the world

one hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 805 The Admonisher, Instructor,

Crosser-Over of all that breathe,

Skilled at Preaching, he , the Buddha,

caused many folks to cross the flood . Verse 2

Walt 806 Merciful, Compassionate One,

Well-Wisher of all that breathe, he

established in the five precepts

all the rivals who had arrived. Verse 3

Walt 807 In this way he was Unconfused

and Very Well-Known by rivals,

Ornamented by arahants

who were masters and neutral ones. Verse 4

Walt 808 The body of the Sage So Great

rose up fifty-eight cubits tall ;

he was Valuable Like Gold,

Bearing the Thirty-Two Great Marks. Verse 5

Walt 809 People’s lifespan at that time was

fully one hundred thousand years.

Remaining in the world so long,

he ferried many folks across. Verse 6

Walt 810 I was born in Haṁsavatī,

in a clan of millionaires then,

glistening with various gems,

endowed with supreme happiness. Verse 7

Walt 811 Having approached the Great Hero,

I heard him preaching the Dhamma ,

ultimately sweet ambrosia

which makes known the ultimate truth. Verse 8

Walt 812-813 Then after inviting him, the

Three-Worlds-Ender, with Assembly,

giving him a large almsgiving,

feeling well- pleased by my own hands,

bowing my head to the Hero,

the World’s Leader with Assembly,

I aspired to that foremost place

of Buddhist nuns who meditate. Verse 9-10

Walt 814 Then the Untamed-Tamer, Master,

Refuge for the Three Worlds, Buddha,

the Leopard of Men, prophesied:

“you will receive that well-wished place . Verse 11

Walt 815 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 12

Walt 816 Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma ,

Dhamma ’s legitimate offspring,

the one known by the name Nandā,

will be the Teacher’s follower.” Verse 13

Walt 817 At that time being overjoyed,

as long as life, heart full of love,

I attended on the Victor,

the Guide, providing requisites. Verse 14

Walt 818 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 15

Walt 819 Fallen thence, I went to Yāma,

and then I went to Tusita,

and then to Nimmānarati,

and then Vāsavatti City. Verse 16

Walt 820 In whichever place I’m reborn,

in accordance with that karma,

everyplace I was made chief queen

of the gods who were the kings there . Verse 17

Walt 821 Fallen thence, in the human state,

everyplace I was made chief queen

of kings who turn the wheel of law,

and powerful regional kings. Verse 18

Walt 822 Having experienced success,

among gods as well as humans,

becoming happy everywhere,

I transmigrated for aeons. Verse 19

Walt 823 When my last rebirth was attained,

I was the blameless daughter of

King Suddhodana, living in

delightful Kapilavastu. Verse 20

Walt 824 Seeing my splendor and beauty,

that Śākyan clan was rejoicing.

Therefore they gave the name “Nandā,”

pleasant and excellent, to me. Verse 21

Walt 825 I was renowned as “the Beauty”

among all of the young women

in that same delightful city,

except of course Yasodharā. Verse 22

Walt 826 My eldest brother’s the Buddha,

the middle one’s likewise a saint;

staying alone in the lay life,

I am exhorted by mother: Verse 23

Walt 827 “Child, you’re born in the Śākyan clan,

following after the Buddha.

Why do you sit there in the house,

being bereft of all your joy? Verse 24

Walt 828 Thought impure is youthful beauty,

under the power of old age;

even a life which is healthy,

ends in disease, ends in dying. Verse 25

Walt 829 Look at even your own fine form:

charming, distracting to the mind,

it’s adorned and ornamented

like Goddess Fortune embellished, Verse 26

Walt 830 like concentrated world-essence

medicinal balm for the eyes,

generating praise for merit,

rejoicing the Okkāka clan; Verse 27

Walt 831 in no long time at all, old age

is going to overpower it .

Young one, abandoning the house,

choose the Teaching, O blameless one.” Verse 28

Walt 832 After hearing my mother’s words,

I went forth into homelessness

in body, but not in my heart,

still enthralled by youth and beauty. Verse 29

Walt 833 Mother said to make my basis

through study of the altered states,

pursuing it with great effort.

I was not enthused about that. Verse 30

Walt 834-835 Then the Great Compassionate One

saw me enthralled by sense pleasures.

To make me weary of beauty,

through his own majestic power,

the Victor conjured up, in my

line of sight, a woman who shined;

she was gorgeous, truly brilliant,

even more beautiful than I. Verse 31-32

Walt 836 And I, astonished, seeing her

very astonishing body,

thought to myself, “fruitful today

is the receipt of human eyes.” Verse 33

Walt 837 I said to her, “O lucky one!

Tell me the story how you’ve come,

and if you please, do tell to me

your clan, your name, your family.” Verse 34

Walt 838 “No time for questions, lucky one;

let me lay my head in your lap.”

As though sinking into my limbs

she reclined well for a moment. Verse 35

Walt 839 Then putting her head in my lap

she with lovely eyes stretched out there .

A spider, very venomous,

landed on that woman’s forehead. Verse 36

Walt 840 When it had fallen onto her,

boils formed all over her body ;

popping open, they were oozing

putrid chunks of pus mixed with blood. Verse 37

Walt 841 And her face was disfigured too,

with the putrid stench of a corpse;

and her body festered too,

now swollen up and turning blue. Verse 38

Walt 842 With all of her limbs quivering,

gasping for every breath she took,

making known her own suffering,

she piteously wailed like this: Verse 39

Walt 843 “I’m afflicted with affliction,

feeling agonizing feelings;

I’m sunk down in great affliction.

Be a refuge for me, O friend.” Verse 40

Walt 844 “Where is that facial shine of yours?

Where is your attractive long nose?

Your excellent copper-red lips?

Where has your beautiful face gone? Verse 41

Walt 845 Where’s your mouth, shining like the moon?

Where has your conch-shell-shaped neck gone?

And both your ears, swaying like swings,

have now become badly discolored. Verse 42

Walt 846 Your milk-laden breasts shaped like jugs

which resembled pointy young buds

have popped open; you’ve become a

putrid corpse with a horrid stench. Verse 43

Walt 847 Your slender middle and buttocks,

meat-stall where wounds and sins are born

are now adorned with excrement.

O! Beauty is not eternal! Verse 44

Walt 848 Every born body is the same:

putrid-smelling and frightening,

like a loathsome cemetery,

where only fools find their delight.” Verse 45

Walt 849 Then the Great Compassionate One,

my brother, Leader of the World,

Having seen me, moved in my heart,

he spoke these verses to me then: Verse 46

Walt 850 “Nanda, look at your own body,

also a sick and putrid corpse.

Through disgustingness cultivate

your mind, well-composed and tranquil. Verse 47

Walt 851 Just as is this, so too is that;

just as is that, so too is this:

putrid and emitting a stench,

causing delight only to fools. Verse 48

Walt 852 Considering that in this way,

industrious by day and night,

you will see with your own wisdom,

having turned away in disgust. Verse 49

Walt 853 After that I was deeply moved,

having heard those well-said verses;

remaining there, being at peace,

I attained my arahantship. Verse 50

Walt 854 Everyplace where I am seated,

I reach the highest altered states.

The Victor, pleased by my virtue,

then placed me in that foremost place. Verse 51

Walt 855 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 52

Walt 856 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 53

Walt 857 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 54

Thus indeed Bhikkhunī Nandā spoke these verses.

The legend of Nandā Therī is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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