Thi Ap 31Eighteen Thousand Kṣatriyan Maiden Buddhist Nuns Headed Up by Yasavatī

– Therīpadāna

– The Legends of the Therīs

– Khattiyā Chapter, the Fourth

31. Eighteen Thousand Kṣatriyan Maiden Buddhist Nuns Headed Up by Yasavatī

Walt 1104 O Great Sage, we are announcing

“all existence has been destroyed;”

we’re freed from ties to existence

all outflows don’t exist for us. Verse 1

Walt 1105 Doing previous good karma,

whatever may have been wished for,

all of this stuff has been given

for the sake of you, O Great Sage. Verse 2

Walt 1106 The wishes of Buddhas, Lonely

Buddhas and of the followers,

all of this stuff has been given

for the sake of you, O Great Sage. Verse 3

Walt 1107 This karma, both big and little,

excellent wish of Buddhist monks,

and service to high-status clans

has been done by us, O Great Sage. Verse 4

Walt 1108 Incited by that wholesome root,

reaping the fruit of that karma,

surpassing all other humans,

we were born in kṣatriyan clan s . Verse 5

Walt 1109 Always together when we’re born,

when karma is done, and by caste,

born together in this last birth,

we’re kṣatriyans, born in the clans. Verse 6

Walt 1110 In the harem, O Great Hero,

as though in the gods’ garden “Joy,”

we’re beautiful, very wealthy,

receiving honor and worship. Verse 7

Walt 1111 Becoming wearied we went forth,

from the home into homelessness.

Remaining attached a few days,

we all attained our nirvana. Verse 8

Walt 1112 People are bringing many gifts,

monastic robes and alms to eat,

requisites as well as lodgings;

we’re always honored and worshipped. Verse 9

Walt 1113 Our defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

we are living without constraint. Verse 10

Walt 1114 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 11

Walt 1115 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

we have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 12

Thus indeed Eighteen Thousand Kṣatriyan Maiden Buddhist Nuns Headed Up by Famous (Yasavatī) spoke these verses.

The legend of Eighteen Thousand Kṣatriyan Maiden Buddhist Nuns

Headed Up by Famous (Yasavatī) 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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