English
For the sake of which I renounced, from home to homelessness; That goal has been attained by me, the destruction of all fetters. Then the Greatly Compassionate One, placed me at the forefront of this; "Sakula is foremost among those with the divine eye," said the Supreme Man. My defilements are burnt out, I dwell without defilements. Welcome indeed it was for me, in the presence of the best of Buddhas; The three knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been done. The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers realized, the Buddha's teaching has been done. The Conqueror named Padumuttara, one who has gone beyond all phenomena; A hundred thousand aeons from now, the Leader arose. An instructor, an explainer, a savior of all beings; The Buddha, skilled in teaching, saved many people. Compassionate, merciful, a well-wisher of all beings; All heretics who came, he established in the five precepts. Thus it was undisturbed, empty of heretics; Adorned with Arahants, those masters, those such ones. Fifty-eight cubits of jewels, the Great Sage rose up; Resembling a golden pillar, with thirty-two excellent marks. A hundred thousand years, was his lifespan; For that long he lived. He, being, saved many people. Then I, in Hamsavati, was born in a merchant's family; Shining with various jewels, endowed with great happiness. Having approached that great hero, I heard the teaching of the Dhamma; Immortal, of supreme taste, revealing the ultimate goal. Then, having invited the world's leader with the Saṅgha; Having given him a great offering, delighted with my own hands. Among the meditating bhikkhunis, I aspired for the foremost position; Bowing my head to the wise one, the world's leader with the Saṅgha. Then the tamer of the untamed, the refuge of the three worlds, the Lord; The charioteer of men declared: 'You shall obtain that which you have well-aspired for. 'In a hundred thousand aeons from now, born in the Okkāka lineage; By clan name Gotama, a teacher will arise in the world. 'An heir in his Dhamma, legitimate, created by Dhamma; By the name Nandā, will be a disciple of the Teacher.' Having heard that, having become joyful, for as long as I lived, then the Conqueror; With a mind of loving-kindness, I attended the leader with requisites. By that well-done action, and by the aspirations of my will; Having abandoned the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. Falling from there, I went to Yāma, from there I went to Tusita; And from there to Nimmānarati, then to Vasavatti city. Wherever I was reborn, by the power of that kamma; There, in each place, I became the chief queen of kings. Falling from there, in the human realm, of universal monarchs; And of regional kings, I became the chief queen. Having experienced prosperity, among gods and humans; Having been happy everywhere, I wandered through many aeons. When the last existence arrived, in the beautiful city called Kapilavastu; I was King Suddhodana's blameless daughter. Seeing me, endowed with beauty, that family was delighted; Therefore my name Nandā became beautiful and excellent. Among all young women, Known as beautiful; In that charming city, Except for Yasodharā. My elder brother, the foremost in the three worlds, And the younger one, an Arahant; I, a householder, alone, Was urged by my mother. ‘Born in the Sākiyan clan, Daughter, you are the Buddha’s younger sister; Separated even from Nanda, Why do you stay in the house? ‘Youth ends in old age, Beauty is considered impure; Health ends in sickness, Life ends in death. ‘This beautiful form of yours, Lovely as the moon, charming; An adornment among ornaments, Like a splendid robe. ‘As if accumulated essence of the world, A delight to the eyes; Generating fame for merits, A joy to the Okkāka clan. ‘Before long, Old age will overcome it; Leaving home, with compassion, Practice the Dhamma, blameless one.’ Hearing my mother’s words, I went forth into homelessness; With my body, but not my mind, Delighted by beauty and youth. With great effort, My mother told me to practice meditation; But I was not eager for that. Then the Greatly Compassionate One, Seeing me attached to sensual pleasures; To make me disenchanted with beauty, Appeared before my eyes. By his own power, He created a beautiful woman; Charming, delightful to see, Even more beautiful than me. Seeing her, I was astonished, That exceedingly wondrous being; I thought, "My human eyes Have gained their purpose." I said to her, "Come, beautiful one, Tell me what you wish; Tell me your family, name, and clan, If it pleases you." ‘This is not the time for questions, beautiful one, Let me rest on your lap; My limbs seem to be sinking, Let me sleep for a moment.’ Then, placing her head on my lap, That beautiful-eyed one lay down; It fell on her forehead, a spider, extremely dreadful. 202. “With its fall, pimples arose; They burst forth, streaming, corpse-like, pus and blood. 203. “Her face too was burst, corpse-like, foul-smelling; Swollen and bluish, her body too was full of pus. 204. “Her whole body trembling, sighing again and again; Feeling her own suffering, she lamented piteously. 205. “‘I am afflicted with suffering, sensations are touching me; I am immersed in great suffering, be my refuge, friend.’ 206. “‘Where is your beautiful face, where is your prominent nose; Your lips like ripe bimba fruit, where has your face gone? 207. “‘Where is your moon-like complexion, where has your conch-like neck gone; Your ears, once swaying like pendulums, have become discolored. 208. “‘Your breasts, once like lotus buds, or like flower buds; Are burst, corpse-like and putrid, having become utterly foul-smelling. 209. “‘Your hips, once slender-waisted like an altar, are swollen, with all defilements gone; Filled with impurity, alas, beauty is impermanent. 210. “‘The whole body, is foul-smelling and dreadful; Like a cemetery, disgusting, where fools delight.’ 211. “Then the Great Compassionate One, my brother, the Leader of the world; Seeing my mind greatly agitated, spoke these verses. 212. “‘Behold, Nanda, this body, diseased, corpse-like, putrid; Cultivate your mind on impurity, steadfast and well-composed. 213. “‘As this is, so is that; as that is, so is this; Foul-smelling, putrid, delighted in by fools. 214. “‘Thus contemplating this, day and night, untiringly; Then with your own wisdom, you will penetrate and see.’ 215. “Then I, greatly agitated, having heard the well-spoken verses; Standing right there, I am Santī, I attained arahantship. 216. Wherever I sat, always devoted to meditation; The Victor, pleased with that quality, placed me at the foremost. 217. My defilements are burnt away… I dwell without taints. 218. Welcome indeed it was for me… The Buddha’s teaching has been done. 219. The four analytical knowledges… The Buddha’s teaching has been done. Thus indeed did the nun Nandā, the beauty of the countryside, utter these verses. The fifth Apadāna of Theri Nandā. 6. The Apadāna of Theri Soṇā 220. The Victor named Padumuttara, one who has crossed over all phenomena; A hundred thousand aeons ago, the leader arose. 221. Then, born in a merchant family, happy, honored, beloved; Approaching that excellent sage, I heard his sweet words. 222. The Victor praised a nun as foremost among those with aroused energy; Hearing that, delighted, having made an offering to the Teacher. 223. Having saluted the Fully Awakened One, I then aspired to that position; The Great Hero approved, ‘May your aspiration succeed. 224. ‘In a hundred thousand aeons from now, born in the Okkāka clan; A Teacher named Gotama by lineage, will appear in the world. 225. ‘Among his teachings, an heir, a true daughter, created by the Dhamma; Named Soṇā by name, will be a female disciple of the Teacher.’ 226. Hearing that, delighted, for as long as I lived, I then served the Victor with a mind of loving-kindness, the leader with requisites. 227. By that well-done deed, and by my aspirations and resolves; Having abandoned my human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. 228. And now in my last existence, I was born in a merchant family; In the excellent city of Sāvatthī, wealthy, prosperous, and with great riches. 229. When I reached youth, going to my husband’s family, I bore ten sons, exceptionally handsome. 230. All of them were well-raised, charming to the eyes of people; Even liked by enemies, how much more so were they dear to me. 231. Then, against my will, preceded by my ten sons, he went forth. He was my husband, in the teaching of the god of gods. 232. Alone I pondered, “Enough of this life for me; Abandoned by my sons, and an old, wretched woman.” 233. “I too will go there, where my husband has gone;” Thus having thought, I went forth into homelessness. 234. Then the bhikkhunis, in a bhikkhuni dwelling, Left me with an instruction, “Heat the water!” 235. Then having heated the water, and poured it into a pot, I sat down by the stove, and then concentrated my mind. 236. Seeing the aggregates as impermanent, as suffering, and as not-self, Having exhausted all defilements, I attained arahantship. 237. Then the bhikkhunis came, and asked for the hot water; Having established the fire element, I quickly heated the water. 238. Amazed, they reported this matter to the best of the Jinas; Hearing that, the delighted Lord spoke this verse: 239. “Though one may live a hundred years, lazy and of weak energy, Better is one day of life, for one who firmly arouses energy.” 240. The Great Hero was pleased, by my good practice; “The foremost of those with aroused energy,” that Great Sage called me. 241. My defilements are burned away… …I dwell without defilements. 242. My coming was indeed welcome… …the Buddha’s teaching has been done. 243. The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha’s teaching has been done.”