Thi Ap 40Selā

– Therīpadāna

– The Legends of the Therīs

40. Selā

Walt 1323 In this present lucky aeon,

Brahma’s Kinsman, Greatly Famed One,

the Buddha known as Kassapa

was born, the Best of Debaters. Verse 1

Walt 1324 I’m born in a lay Buddhist clan,

in Śrāvasti, superb city.

Having seen that superb Victor,

and having heard him preach Dhamma , Verse 2a-d

Walt 1325 gone to that Hero for refuge,

I undertook morality.

Whenever that Great Hero, in

the midst of the great populace, Verse 2e-f,.3a-b

Walt 1326 the Bull of Men was explaining

his own supreme Awakening,

things which formerly were unheard,

starting with “ life is suffering,” Verse 3c-f

Walt 1327 hearing that, and taking it up,

insight, thinking, wisdom, science,

and intuition rose in me,

and I asked the monks about them . Verse 4

Walt 1328 In Kassapa’s dispensation,

I practiced celibate nunhood .

Due to that karma, I was born

in the city of the thirty. Verse 5

Walt 1329 And now, in my final rebirth,

born in a large millionaire’s clan

having approached and having heard

the Buddha’s great truth-filled Teaching, Verse 6

Walt 1330 having gone forth, in no long time,

I understood truth’s foundations;

casting away all defilements,

I achieved my arahantship. Verse 7

Walt 1331 I’ve mastered the superpowers

like the “divine ear” element.

I’m also a master, Great Sage,

of the knowledge in others’ hearts. Verse 8

Walt 1332 I remember my former lives;

my “divine eye” is purified.

All the defilements are destroyed;

I will not be reborn again. Verse 9

Walt 1333 In meaning and in the Teaching,

etymology and preaching,

this knowledge of mine was produced

in your presence, O Great Hero. Verse 10

Walt 1334 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 11

Walt 1335 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 12

Walt 1336 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 13

Thus indeed the bhikkhunī Selā spoke these verses.

The legend of Selā Therī is finished

The Summary:

The kṣatriyans and the brahmins,

likewise Uppaladāyikā,

Sigālamātā and Sukkā,

Abhirūpā, Aḍḍhakāsikā,

the prostitute, so too Puṇṇā,

and Ambapālī, Buddhist nun,

and Selā then makes the tenth one.

There are two hundred verses here,

plus another forty-two more.

The Kṣatriyan Chapter, the Fourth.

And then there is the Summary of Chapters:

Sumedhā, Ekuposathā,

Kuṇḍalakesī Khattiyā

one thousand three hundred verses

mixed in with forty-seven more .

Along with Uddāna verses

which are counted by those who know,

there are one thousand three hundred

verses plus fifty seven more .

The Therī-apadāna is Finished

The Apadāna 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.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org