Thi Ap 34Sigālaka-mātā

– Therīpadāna

– The Legends of the Therīs

34. Sigālaka-mātā

Walt 1185 The Victor, Padumuttara,

was a Master of Everything.

That Leader arose in the world

one hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 1186 I was born in Haṁsavatī,

in a clan of ministers then,

rich, prosperous, very wealthy,

glistening with various gems. Verse 2

Walt 1187 Going along with my father,

surrounded by a multitude,

having heard the Buddha’s Teaching,

I went forth into homelessness. Verse 3

Walt 1188 After going forth I gave up

evil karma with the body.

I purified my way of life,

except for poor conduct through speech. Verse 4

Walt 1189 Pleased in the Buddha, Teaching and

Assembly; eager, respectful,

used to hearing the great Teaching;

I’m greedy to see the Buddha. Verse 5

Walt 1190 I then heard of a Buddhist nun,

foremost among those freed by faith.

Aspiring to attain that place,

I then fulfilled the three trainings.

The Rest for Those Seeking Pity,

the Well-Gone-One, thereupon said this : Verse 6,.7a-b

Walt 1191 “He whose faith in the Thus-Gone-One

is well-established, not shaking,

and whose morals are beautiful,

dear to noble people, and praised; Verse 7c-d,.8a-b

Walt 1192 whose insight is upright and whose

pleasure is in the Assembly:

it is said, “he is not wretched;”

his life’s considered not useless. Verse 8c-d,.9a-b

Walt 1193 Therefore, wise ones, commit yourselves

to faith and to morality,

to Dhamma -insight and pleasure;

pith of Buddha’s dispensation.” Verse 9c-d,.10a-b

Walt 1194 Hearing that, being overjoyed,

I questioned him about my wish.

Then the Supreme, Measureless One,

the Guide, prophesied in this way: Verse 10c-d,.11a-b

Walt 1195 “Lovely one, pleased in the Buddha,

you will receive that well-wished place .

In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 11c-d,.12

Walt 1196 Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma ,

Dhamma ’s legitimate offspring,

she named Sigālaka’s Mother

will be the Teacher’s follower.” Verse 13

Walt 1197 Gladdened after having heard that,

with a heart that was full of love,

as long as life I then served the

Victor, Guide, through my practices. Verse 14

Walt 1198 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 15

Walt 1199 And now, in my final rebirth,

in Giribbaja, best city,

I was born to rich millionaires,

with a huge quantity of gems. Verse 16

Walt 1200 My son was named Sigālaka,

taking delight on the wrong road,

slipped into the jungle of views,

keen to worship the directions. Verse 17

Walt 1201 Standing on the road, the Buddha,

the Guide, advised him, seeing him

coming toward the city praising

the directions with balls of food. Verse 18

Walt 1202 When he was preaching the Dhamma ,

there were amazing shrieks of joy;

twenty million men and women

gained insight into the Teaching. Verse 19

Walt 1203 Then having gone into the crowd,

having heard the Well-Gone-One’s speech,

gaining the fruit of stream-entry,

I went forth into homelessness. Verse 20

Walt 1204 After not a very long time,

hankering to see the Buddha,

refining mindfulness through him,

I attained my arahantship. Verse 21

Walt 1205 I’m going every single day

in order to see the Buddha.

I’m dissatisfied looking at

only his eye-pleasing body, Verse 22

Walt 1206 produced by all the perfections,

excellent lair of good fortune,

his body, strewn with all goodness:

dissatisfied, I’m living there . Verse 23

Walt 1207 The Victor, pleased at that virtue,

placed me in that foremost place:

“The Mother of Sigālaka’s

foremost among those freed by faith.” Verse 24

Walt 1208 I’ve mastered the superpowers

like the “divine ear” element.

I’m also a master, Great Sage,

of the knowledge in others’ hearts. Verse 25

Walt 1209 I remember my former lives;

my “divine eye” is purified.

All the defilements are destroyed;

I will not be reborn again. Verse 26

Walt 1210 In meaning and in the Teaching,

etymology and preaching,

this knowledge of mine was produced

in your presence, O Great Hero. Verse 27

Walt 1211 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 28

Walt 1212 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 29

Walt 1213 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 30

Thus indeed the bhikkhunī Sigālaka-mātā spoke these verses.

The legend of Sigālaka-mātā Therī is finished

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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