English
A Teacher named Gotama by clan, will arise in the world. 477. His heirs in the Dhamma, legitimate, created by Dhamma; By the name Paṭācārā, she will be a disciple of the Teacher." 478. Then, being joyful, for as long as I lived, that Victor; With a mind of loving-kindness, I attended, the world's leader with his Saṅgha. 479. By that k By good deeds, And by aspirations; Leaving the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. “In this auspicious eon, A kinsman of Brahmā, greatly renowned; Named Kassapa by clan, The best of speakers, arose. “The attendant of the great sage, Then was a king of men; King Kikī of Kāsi, by name, In the excellent city of Bārāṇasī. “I was his third daughter, Known as Bhikkhunī; Having heard the Dhamma of the supreme Conqueror, I delighted in renunciation. “Our father did not permit us, So then we remained in the house; For twenty thousand years, We lived diligently. “The maidenly holy life, The royal maidens, well-nourished; Devoted to attending the Buddha, The seven daughters rejoiced. “Samaṇī, and Samaṇaguttā, Bhikkhunī, Bhikkhudāyikā; Dhammā and Sudhammā, The seventh was Saṅghadāyikā. “I was Uppalavaṇṇā, And Khemā, and Bhaddā the bhikkhunī; Kisāgotamī, Dhammadinnā, Visākhā was the seventh. “By those good deeds, And by aspirations; Leaving the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. “And now in my last existence, I was born in a merchant family; In the excellent city of Sāvatthī, Prosperous, thriving, and wealthy. “And when I reached youth, I was swayed by thoughts; Seeing a man, a householder, I went with him. “I had given birth to one son, A second was in my womb; Then I was determined, ‘I will see my parents.’ “I did not tell my husband, As he was away then; Alone I left the house, To go to excellent Sāvatthī. “Then my husband came, And met me on the road; Then karmic winds, Extremely terrible, arose in me. “And a great cloud arose, At the time of my childbirth; Then, having gone for grass, My husband was killed by a snake. “Then, with the pain of childbirth, Helpless and wretched I was; Seeing the river full, Going to my family home. I crossed, taking my child, and alone on the far bank; Having made the infant son drink, I was about to cross for the other. 496. Returning, a hawk snatched the crying young one; And the current carried away the other, I was overwhelmed with sorrow. 497. Going to Sāvatthi city, I heard my family had died; Then, afflicted by grief, overwhelmed by great sorrow, I spoke. 498. Both my sons are dead, my husband died on the road; Mother, father, and brother, were burned on one pyre. 499. Then, thin and pale, helpless, with a dejected mind; Wandering here and there, I saw the charioteer of men. 500. Then the Teacher said to me, ‘Do not grieve for your sons, breathe easy; Seek your own self, why do you torment yourself in vain? 501. ‘There are no sons for protection, no relatives, no kinsmen; For one overcome by Death, there is no protection among relatives.’ 502. Hearing that word of the Sage, I attained the first fruit; Having gone forth, not long after, I attained arahantship. 503. I am skilled in psychic powers, and in the divine ear element; I know the minds of others, a doer of the Teacher's bidding. 504. I know past lives, my divine eye is purified; Having exhausted all defilements, I am pure, utterly stainless. 505. Then I, all the Vinaya, in the presence of the All-Seer; I learned in all its detail, and expounded it truly. 506. The Conqueror, pleased with that quality, placed me at the forefront; Foremost among the Vinaya-holders, Paṭācārā alone. 507. The Teacher has been served by me, the Buddha's teaching has been done; The heavy burden has been laid down, the craving for existence uprooted. 508. For the sake of which I went forth, from home to homelessness; That goal has been attained by me, the destruction of all fetters. 509. My defilements are burnt... I dwell without defilements. 510. Welcome indeed was my coming... The Buddha's teaching has been done. 511. The four analytical knowledges... The Buddha's the teaching.” Thus indeed, the bhikkhunī Paṭācārā spoke these verses. The tenth story of the Elder Paṭācārā. The second chapter, Ekūposathikā. Its summary – Ekūposathikā, And then Saḷalā and Modakā; Ekāsanā, Pañcadīpā, And Naḷamālī and Gotamī. Khemā, Uppalavaṇṇā, And Paṭācārā the bhikkhunī; Five hundred verses, And nine more besides.