Thi Ap 29Ten Thousand Buddhist Nuns Headed Up by Yasovatī

– Therīpadāna

– The Legends of the Therīs

29. Ten Thousand Buddhist Nuns Headed Up by Yasovatī

Walt 1029 One hundred thousand aeons and

four incalculable aeons

hence, Dīpaṅkara, the Victor,

the Leader of the World was born. Verse 1

Walt 1030 Dīpaṅkara, the Great Hero,

the Guide, prophesied back then that

Sumedha and Sumittā would

be the same in pleasure and pain. Verse 2

Walt 1031 Seeing and going about in

the world together with its gods,

meeting us was included in

what Buddha prophesied for them. Verse 3

Walt 1032 “You, Sumedha, will be all of

our husbands met in the future;

we’ll all be your desirable

wives, saying what is dear to you .” Verse 4

Walt 1033 All this alms-giving and morals,

meditation cultivated;

for a long time our everything

has been abandoned, O Great Sage. Verse 5

Walt 1034 Scents and ointments, garlands and lamps,

which were fashioned out of pure gold,

whatever it was we wished for,

all was abandoned, O Great Sage. Verse 6

Walt 1035 And other karma we have done,

and every human enjoyment,

for a long time our everything

has been abandoned, O Great Sage. Verse 7

Walt 1036 Transmigrating in varied births,

much good karma was done by us;

experiencing you as husband,

transmigrating life after life, Verse 8

Walt 1037 When our last lifetime was attained,

in the home of the Śākyan prince,

we arose in various clans,

attractive celestial nymphs. Verse 9

Walt 1038 We’ve attained fame, with foremost gain;

we’re worshipped and well-respected.

We are always venerated,

receiving things to eat and drink. Verse 10

Walt 1039 After abandoning the home,

going forth into homelessness,

when eight months had not yet elapsed,

we all realized nirvana. Verse 11

Walt 1040 Always worshipped and respected,

we receive things to eat and drink,

and clothes and also lodgings too;

folks bring us all the requisites. Verse 12

Walt 1041 Our defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

we are living without constraint. Verse 13

Walt 1042 Being in Best Buddha's presence

was a very good thing for us.

The three knowledges are attained;

we have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 14

Walt 1043 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

we have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 15

Thus indeed ten thousand Buddhist nuns headed up by Yasovatī spoke these verses face-to-face with the Blessed One.

The legend of ten thousand Buddhist nuns headed up by Yasodharā 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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