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I worshipped the Self-born One. By that well-done deed, and by my aspirations, abandoning the kinnarī body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. I became the chief queen of thirty-six deva kings; what I wished for in my mind came to be as desired. I became the chief queen of ten wheel-turning monarchs; being pure in mind, I wandered through existences. Merit exists for me, I went forth into homelessness; worthy of offerings... I today, in the teaching of the Sakya's Son. 92. With a mind purified today, freed from mental evils; All defilements destroyed, there is no more rebirth now. 93. Ninety-four aeons ago, when I honored the Buddha; I know no suffering, this is the fruit of Naḷamālā. 94. My defilements are burnt, the thread of existence is uprooted; All ties to existence are cut, I dwell without defilements. 95. Welcome indeed it was for me, in the presence of the best of Buddhas; The three knowledges are attained, the Buddha's teaching has been accomplished. 96. The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers are realized, the Buddha's teaching has been accomplished. Thus indeed, the bhikkhuni Naḷamālikā spoke these verses. The Sixth, the Apadāna of the Elder Bhikkhuni Naḷamālikā. 7. The Apadāna of the Elder Bhikkhuni Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī 97. Once, the Light of the World, in the great forest of Vesālī; In a well-built gabled hall, dwelt the charioteer of men. 98. Then, the aunt of the Conqueror, the bhikkhuni Mahāgotamī; In that charming city, dwelt in the bhikkhunis' residence. 99. With five hundred liberated bhikkhunis, when she was in solitude, this thought arose in her mind. 100. The Buddha's final passing, or that of the chief pair of disciples; Of Rāhula, Ānanda, Nanda, I shall not be able to see. 101. The Buddha's final passing, or that of the chief pair of disciples; Of Mahākassapa, Nanda, and Ānanda, Rāhula. 102. Having first relinquished the life-formation, and attained Nibbāna; I should go, permitted by the Lord of the World, the great sage. 103. Likewise, the thought of five hundred bhikkhunis, and of Khemā and others, was this very thought. 104. Then there was an earthquake, divine drums resounded; The deities dwelling in the residence, were afflicted with sorrow. 105. Lamenting very pitifully, they shed tears there; All the bhikkhunis, approaching Gotamī. 106. Bowing their heads at her feet, spoke these words: 'There, sprinkled with drops of water, we, venerable one, are in solitude. 07. “‘This earth is shaking, trembling, the divine drums are sounding; Lamentations are heard, for what reason, Gotamī?’ 108. Then she spoke everything, as she had pondered; And they all spoke, as they had pondered. 109. “‘If it pleases you, lady, Nibbāna, the supreme bliss; We shall all attain Nibbāna, with the Buddha’s permission, O virtuous one. 110. “‘We went forth together, from home and from existence; Together we shall go, to Nibbāna, the supreme state.’ 111. “‘What shall I say to those going to Nibbāna?’ she said; With all of them, she then left, the bhikkhunī monastery. 112. “May the deities dwelling in the monastery forgive me; This is my last sight of the bhikkhunī monastery. 113. Where there is no old age or death, no meeting with the unloved; No separation from the loved, to that unconditioned I shall go. 114. Those without passion, hearing that word of the Sugata’s daughter; Distressed by sorrow, lamented, ‘Alas, our lack of merit!’ 115. The bhikkhunī monastery is empty, desolate without them; Like stars in the morning, the Buddha’s daughters are not seen. 116. Gotamī goes to Nibbāna, with five hundred (nuns); As the Gaṅgā with five hundred rivers goes to the ocean. 117. Seeing them going along the road, devout laywomen; Leaving their homes, fell at their feet, and said this: 118. “‘Be gracious, O greatly blessed one, leaving us helpless; It is not right for you to attain Nibbāna,’ they cried out, desiring (her presence). 119. To remove their sorrow, she spoke sweet words: ‘Enough of weeping, my daughters, this is a time for joy for you today. 120. ‘Suffering has been fully understood by me, the cause of suffering has been abandoned; Cessation has been realized by me, and the path has been well developed. First Recitation Section. 121. ‘The Teacher has been attended to by me, the Buddha’s teaching has been done; The heavy burden has been laid down, existence The net is uprooted. 122. “‘For the sake of which I went forth, from home to homelessness; That purpose has been attained by me, the destruction of all fetters. 123. “‘As long as the Buddha and his true Dhamma remain undiminished; It is time for me to attain Nibbāna, do not grieve for me, my daughters. 124. “‘Koṇḍañña, Ānanda, Nandā and others, Rāhula, the Conqueror, remain; The Sangha is happy and united, and the sectarians are overcome. 125. “‘The glory of the Okkāka clan, the vanquisher of Māra, is exalted; Is it not now time for me, for the sake of Nibbāna, my daughters? 126. “‘That which I have longed for for a long time, today is fulfilled; This is a time for joyful drums, why do you shed tears, my daughters? 127. “‘If there is compassion for me, and if there is gratitude; For the stability of the true Dhamma, all of you, make firm effort. 128. “‘The Fully Awakened One granted ordination to women, being requested by me; Therefore, just as I would rejoice, so should you follow that.’ 129. Thus having exhorted them, surrounded by bhikkhunīs; She approached and venerated the Buddha, and spoke these words. 130. “‘I, O Sugata, am your mother, and you, O Hero, are my father; Giver of the happiness of the true Dhamma, O Lord, by you, O Gotama, I was born. 131. “‘This physical body, O Sugata, was nourished by me; The blameless Dhamma-body, was nourished by you in me. 132. “‘For a moment, to quell craving, you were suckled with milk by me; By you, I was suckled with the milk of Dhamma, which is utterly peaceful. 133. “‘For my protection from bondage, you are not indebted, O Great Sage; Women desiring sons, obtain such a child. 134. “‘The mother of kings like Mandhātā, she was immersed in the ocean of existence; By you, my son, I have been rescued from the ocean of existence. 135. “‘The name “Queen Mother” is easy for women to obtain; But the name “Mother of the Buddha,” this is supremely rare. 136. ‘That vow, great hero, which I made with you, whether small or great, all that has been fulfilled by me. 137. ‘‘‘I wish to attain final Nibbāna, abandoning this body; permit me, hero, leader who ends suffering. 138. ‘‘‘Extend your feet, adorned with wheels, goads, and banners, tender as lotuses; I will pay homage, O best of sons.’ 139. ‘‘‘Make your body manifest, like a heap of gold; having made your body clearly visible, I will go to peace, O leader.’ 140. ‘‘The Conqueror showed his aunt his body endowed with the thirty-two marks, adorned with brilliant splendor, like the morning sun amidst evening clouds. 141. ‘‘On his lotus-like, radiant feet, bright as the young sun, marked with the wheel, she then fell with her head. 142. ‘‘‘I bow to the sun of men, the banner of the Solar clan; at my final death, I shall not see you again. 143. ‘‘‘Women, O foremost of the world, are considered the source of all faults; if there is any fault in me, forgive me, O compassionate one. 144. ‘‘‘I repeatedly begged you for the ordination of women; if there is any fault in me in that, forgive it, O bull among men. 145. ‘‘‘By me, O hero, the bhikkhunīs were instructed with your permission; if there is any misconduct in that, forgive it, O lord of patience. 146. ‘‘‘What would be in one adorned with virtues that needs to be forgiven when there is no offense? What more shall I say to you, as I go to Nibbāna? 147. ‘‘‘My pure and complete community of bhikkhus, capable of escaping from this world, is like the moon's crescent appearing to those distressed at dawn.’ 148. ‘‘Then the other bhikkhunīs, like stars following the moon to Mount Meru, circumambulated the foremost Conqueror, and bowing at his feet, stood gazing at his face. 149. ‘‘‘My eye is never satisfied with seeing you, nor my ear with your words; my mind alone, only this, having attained that...’ Hammārasena Titti. Roaring in the assembly, Your striking of instruments; Those who will see your face, Blessed are they, O excellent man. Long-fingered, with copper-colored nails, Beautiful, with long heels; Those who will bow down to your feet, They too are blessed, O bearer of virtues. Sweet and joyful, Destroying faults and beneficial; Those who hear your words, They too are blessed, O supreme man. I am blessed by you, great hero, Intent on worshipping your feet; Having crossed the wilderness of transmigration, By the good words of the glorious one. Then she, the virtuous one, Having advised the community of monks, And having saluted Rahula and Nanda, Spoke this. Like a dwelling of venomous snakes, A dwelling of diseases, this body; Disgusted with the mass of suffering, Whose domain is old age and death. Filled with various defilements and impurities, Dependent on others, helpless; Therefore I wish to attain Nibbana, Permit me, O sons. Nanda and the fortunate Rahula, Free from sorrow, free from defilements, Firm in unshakeable stability, firm, Reflected on the nature of things. Fie upon the conditioned, fickle, Without essence, like a plantain tree; Like a magical illusion or a mirage, The other (existence) is unstable. Where indeed this aunt of the Conqueror, The nourisher of the Buddha, Gotami, goes to destruction, Impermanent are all conditioned things. And Ananda then, a learner, Afflicted by sorrow, affectionate towards the Conqueror, Shedding tears there, he Piteously lamented. Alas! Gotami attains peace, Surely even the Buddha will attain Nibbana Not long after, Like a fire without fuel. To Ananda thus lamenting, Gotami said, 'Deep like an ocean of learning,