English
The Chapter of Threes 1. The Verses of the Other Sāmā Theri 39. Twenty-five years since I went forth; I do not know my mind ever having found peace. 40. Not having found peace of mind, my mind not under control; Then I felt urgency, remembering the teaching of the Conqueror. 41. Through many painful states, and my delight in heedfulness; The destruction of craving was attained, the Buddha's teaching was done; Today is my seventh night, since craving was dried up. … The Other Sāmā Theri…. 2. The Verses of Uttamā Theri 42. Four times, five times, I left the monastery; Not having found peace of mind, my mind not under control. 43. I approached that bhikkhuni, who was faithful to me; She taught me the Dhamma, the aggregates, sense-bases, and elements. 44. Having heard her Dhamma, as she instructed me; For seven days, in one sitting, I sat, filled with joy and happiness; On the eighth day, I stretched out my feet, having burst the mass of darkness. … Uttamā Theri…. 3. The Verses of the Other Uttamā Theri 45. These seven factors of awakening, the path to the attainment of Nibbāna; All of them have been developed by me, as taught by the Buddha. 46. I am a recipient of emptiness and signlessness, as I wish; A true daughter of the Buddha, ever delighting in Nibbāna. 47. All desires are cut off, both divine and human; The cycle of rebirth is exhausted, there is no more becoming again. … The Other Uttamā Theri…. 4. The Verses of Dantikā Theri 48. Leaving my day-dwelling, on Vulture Peak mountain; I saw an elephant, having descended into the water and come out, on the river bank. 49. A man, taking a goad, asked, "Give your foot!"; The elephant stretched out its foot, the man mounted the elephant. 50. Seeing the untamed tamed, gone under the control of humans; Then I composed my mind, having truly gone to the forest for that. … Dantikā Theri…. 5. The Verses of Ubbiri Theri 51. "Mother, Jīvā!" you cry in the forest, having overcome yourself Go, Ubbiri! Eighty-four thousand, all bearing the name of life; In this charnel ground burned, for whom do you mourn? 52. Indeed, you have drawn out my dart, hard to see, lodged in my heart; Which for me, overcome by sorrow, the sorrow for my daughter, has dispelled. 53. So today, with dart drawn out, free from craving, completely cooled; To the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, I go for refuge, the Sage. 6. Sukkātherīgāthā 54. What is wrong with the people in Rājagaha, like those who have drunk honey, they remain; Who do not attend upon Sukkā, teaching the Buddha's teaching. 55. And that irresistible, of unmixed essence (teaching); I think the wise drink it, like travelers drink from a cloud. 56. Sukkā, with pure qualities, free from passion, composed; Bears her final body, having conquered Māra with his retinue. 7. Selātherīgāthā 57. There is no escape in the world, what will you do with solitude? Enjoy the pleasures of sense desire, do not be regretful afterwards. 58. Sensual pleasures are like spears and stakes, the aggregates are their chopping block; What you call 'pleasure in desires', that is now 'displeasure' for me. 59. Delight is destroyed everywhere, the mass of darkness is shattered; Know this, O Evil One, you are defeated, O Destroyer. 8. Somātherīgāthā 60. That state, hard to achieve, which is to be attained by sages; That cannot, with a two-finger wisdom, be attained by a woman. 61. Womanhood, what can it do to us, when the mind is well-concentrated; When knowledge is present, rightly discerning the Dhamma. 62. Delight is destroyed everywhere, the mass of darkness is shattered; Know this, O Evil One, you are defeated, O Destroyer.