English
3. The Chapter of Kuṇḍalakesī 1. The Apadāna of Theri Kuṇḍalakesā 1. “A Buddha named Padumuttara, one who has crossed over all phenomena; A hundred thousand aeons from now, the leader arose. 2. “Then I, in Haṃsavatī, was born into a merchant's family; Adorned with various jewels, endowed with great happiness. 3. “Having approached that Great Hero, I heard the teaching of the Dhamma; Then, with faith arisen, I took refuge in the Buddha. 4. “Then the Greatly Compassionate One, named Padumuttara; Established a virtuous bhikkhunī in the path of swift supernormal knowledge. 5. “Having heard that, I rejoiced, and having given a gift to the Great Sage; Bowing my head at his feet, I aspired to that state. 6. “The Great Hero approved, saying, ‘Good lady, whatever you aspire to; All of that will be fulfilled, may you be happy and peaceful. 7. “‘A hundred thousand aeons from now, born into the Okkāka clan; A teacher named Gotama by clan, will appear in the world. 8. “‘Among his Dhamma heirs, legitimate, Dhamma-born; Bhaddā Kuṇḍalakesā, will be a female disciple of the Teacher.’ 9. “By that well-done deed, and by the aspirations of my will; Having abandoned my human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. 10. “Having fallen from there, I went to Yama, from there I went to Tusita; From there to Nimmānaratī, and then to Vasavattīpura. 11. “Wherever I was reborn, by the power of that kamma; There, in each place, I became the chief queen of kings. 12. “Having fallen from there, among humans, of kings, of universal monarchs; And of kings of provinces, I became the chief queen. 13. “Having experienced prosperity, among gods and among humans; Being happy everywhere, I wandered through many aeons. 14. “In this auspicious aeon, the kinsman of Brahmā, greatly renowned; Kassapa by clan, the best of speakers, arose. 15. “The attendant of the Great Sage, then was a king; King Kikī of Kāsi, in the excellent city of Bārāṇasī. 16. “I was his fourth daughter, known as Bhikkhudāyī (Giver to Monks); Having heard the Dhamma of the foremost Buddha, I desired to go forth.” Our father did not permit us, so then we stayed at home; For twenty thousand years, we lived diligently. As royal maidens, well-nourished, we observed maidenly celibacy; Devoted to serving the Buddha, the seven daughters were joyful. Samaṇī and Samaṇaguttā, Bhikkhunī and Bhikkhudāyikā; Dhammā and Sudhammā, the seventh was Saṅghadāyikā. Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā, and I was Paṭācārā then; Kisāgotamī, Dhammadinnā, Visākhā was the seventh. By those well-done deeds, and by those aspirations; Having abandoned the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. And now in this last existence, in the excellent city of Giribbaja; Born in a prosperous merchant family, when I was in my youth. Seeing a thief being led to execution, I became enamored of him there; My father, with a thousand (coins), freed him from execution then. My father gave me to him, knowing my mind; I was devoted to him, exceedingly beloved and beneficial. He, greedy for my ornaments, with a wicked intention; Led me to the Thieves' Cliff, and planned my murder on the mountain. Then I, having bowed to my enemy, with clasped hands; Protecting my own life, spoke these words. ‘This golden armlet, many pearls and beryls; Take all, good sir, and declare me a slave.’ ‘Take them off, fair lady, do not lament so much; I do not know how to obtain wealth, without killing.’ ‘Since I remember myself, since I attained consciousness; I do not know anyone else, dearer than you.’ ‘Come, I will embrace you, having circumambulated you; For there will be no more, meeting for you and me.’ ‘Indeed, in all places, a man is not always wise; A woman can also be wise, discerning in various situations.’ Not in all places, is a man wise; A woman too is wise, swiftly pondering meaning. Swiftly indeed and quickly, I thought of the near; As a deer with wool, so then, I slew the enemy. And whoever an arisen matter, does not swiftly understand; He is slain, dull-witted, like a thief in a mountain cave. And whoever an arisen matter, swiftly comprehends; Is freed from enemy oppression, as I was from the enemy then.’ Then I, having thrown down, the enemy in the mountain chasm; Approaching the white-clad ones, I went forth (renounced). And with pincers my hair, having plucked out completely then; Having renounced, the doctrine, they taught continuously. Then I, having taken that up, sitting alone; That doctrine I pondered, like a dog a human hand. Having taken the severed (hand) near me, having dropped it, it departed; Seeing the omen I obtained, that hand full of maggots. Then rising, agitated, I asked my fellow renunciants; They said, "They know, that meaning, the Sakyan bhikkhus." So I that meaning would ask, approaching the Buddha's disciples; They, taking me, went, to the presence of the best of Buddhas. He taught me the Dhamma, the aggregates, sense-bases, elements; As impure, impermanent, suffering, and not-self, the leader. Having heard his Dhamma, I, purified the eye of Dhamma; Then, having understood the True Dhamma, renunciation and ordination. Requested then he said, "Come, good lady," the leader; Then I, ordained, saw a little water. By washing my feet, I, knowing rise and fall; Thus all formations, such I pondered then. Then my mind was freed, without clinging completely; The path of swift direct knowledge. me, then the Victor proclaimed. 47. “I am master of psychic powers, and of the divine ear-element; I know the minds of others, a doer of the Teacher’s bidding. 48. “I know my past lives, my divine eye is purified; Having exhausted all defilements, I am pure and utterly clean. 49. “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. 50. “For the sake of which I went forth, from home to homelessness; That goal has been attained by me, the destruction of all fetters. 51. “In meaning, doctrine, and language, and likewise in ready wit; My knowledge is pure and clean, in the teaching of the Best of Buddhas. 52. “My defilements are burnt up, all existences are uprooted; Like a serpent breaking its bonds, I dwell without defilements. 53. “Welcome indeed was my coming, to the presence of my Buddha; The three knowledges have been attained, the Buddha’s teaching has been done. 54. “The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers realized, the Buddha’s teaching has been done.” Thus indeed Bhaddā Kuṇḍalakesā the bhikkhunī spoke these verses. The first, the Apadāna of Theri Kuṇḍalakesā. 2. The Apadāna of Theri Kisāgotamī 55. “A Victor named Padumuttara, one who has gone to the far shore of all phenomena; A leader arose, a hundred thousand aeons from now. 56. “Then I, in Haṃsavatī, was born in a certain family; Approaching that best of men, I went for refuge. 57. “And I heard his Dhamma, comprising the four noble truths; Sweet, of supreme taste, bringing the happiness of the cessation of the round of existence. 58. “Then the hero, a supreme man, placing a bhikkhunī who wore coarse robes at the foremost position, praised her. 59. “Having generated no little joy, hearing the virtues of that bhikkhunī; Having paid homage to the Buddha, according to my ability, according to my strength. 60. “Having prostrated before that best of sages, I aspired to that position; Then the Sambuddha, the leader, approved of my gaining that position. 61. “‘A hundred thousand aeons from now, Okkā Born of the Kakula tree; Gotama by clan, a Teacher will be in the world. 62. “‘Heirs in his teachings, born of the Dhamma, Kisāgotamī by name, will be a disciple of the Teacher.’ 63. “Hearing that, delighted, for as long as I lived, I served that Jina then; with a mind of loving-kindness, I attended the Leader with requisites. 64. “By that well-done action, and by those aspirations; leaving the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. 65. “In this auspicious eon, a kinsman of Brahmā, greatly renowned; Kassapa by clan, the best of speakers, arose. 66. “The attendant of the Great Seer, at that time, was the king; King Kikī of Kāsi, in the supreme city of Bārāṇasī. 67. “I was his fifth daughter, renowned by the name Dhammā; hearing the Dhamma of the Chief Jina, I approved of renunciation. 68. “Our father did not permit us, so we remained in the household then; for twenty thousand years, we wandered diligently. 69. “Maidenly celibacy, royal princesses well-nourished; devoted to attending the Buddha, delighted were the seven daughters. 70. “Samaṇī, Samaṇaguttā, Bhikkhunī, Bhikkhudāyikā; Dhammā and Sudhammā, the seventh was Saṅghadāyikā. 71. “Khemā, Uppalavaṇṇā, Paṭācārā, and Kuṇḍalā; I and Dhammadinnā, Visākhā was the seventh. 72. “By those well-done actions, and by those aspirations; leaving the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. 73. “And now in this last existence, I was born in a rich merchant family; from a poor, moneyless, ruined family, I went to a wealthy family. 74. “Except for my husband, the others, being poor, hated me; but when I gave birth, then I was dear to all. 75. “When that handsome, tender, well-nourished son was like my very life; then he went to the power of death. 76. “Afflicted by sorrow, with a sad face, with tearful eyes, weeping…” hā; Taking the corpse, lamenting, I went. 77. Then, seen by one, approaching the best of sages, I said, "Give medicine, for my son's revival, sir." 78. "From a house where none have died, bring mustard seeds from there," the Victor said, skilled in the way of discipline. 79. Then, going to Sāvatthī, I found no such house. Whence mustard seeds? Then, gaining mindfulness, I. 80. Casting away the corpse, I approached the World-Leader. Seeing me from afar, he spoke with a sweet voice: 81. "'Whoever lives a hundred years, not seeing rise and fall, better is one day's life, seeing rise and fall. 82.