An Unnamed Nun (1st)

Aññatarātherīgāthā

1 Sleep softly, little nun,
wrapped in the cloth you sewed yourself;
for your desire has been quelled,
like vegetables boiled dry in a pot.

1 p_19Th2_2"Sukhaṁ supāhi therike,
Katvā coḷena pārutā;
Upasanto hi te rāgo,
Sukkhaḍākaṁ va kumbhiyan"ti.

That is how this verse was recited by a certain unnamed nun.

Itthaṁ sudaṁ aññatarā therī apaññātā bhikkhunī gāthaṁ abhāsitthāti.

Muttā (1st)

Muttātherīgāthā

2 Muttā, be released from your bonds,
like the moon released from the eclipse.
When your mind is released,
enjoy your alms free of debt.

2p_19Th2_4"Mutte muccassu yogehi,
cando rāhuggahā iva;
Vippamuttena cittena,
anaṇā bhuñja piṇḍakan"ti.

That is how the Buddha regularly advised the trainee nun Muttā with these verses.

Itthaṁ sudaṁ bhagavā muttaṁ sikkhamānaṁ imāya gāthāya abhiṇhaṁ ovadatīti.

Punna

Puṇṇātherīgāthā

3 Puṇṇā, be filled with good qualities,
like the moon on the fifteenth day.
When your wisdom is full,
shatter the mass of darkness.

3p_19Th2_6"Puṇṇe pūrassu dhammehi,
Cando pannaraseriva;
Paripuṇṇāya paññāya,
Tamokhandhaṁ padālayā"ti.

That is how this verse was recited by the senior nun Puṇṇā.

Itthaṁ sudaṁ puṇṇā therī gāthaṁ abhāsitthāti.

Tissā

Tissātherīgāthā

4 Tissā, train in the trainings—
don’t let the practice pass you by.
Detached from all attachments,
live in the world free of defilements.

4p_19Th2_8"Tisse sikkhassu sikkhāya,
mā taṁ yogā upaccaguṁ;
Sabbayogavisaṁyuttā,
cara loke anāsavā"ti.

Another Tissā

Aññatarātissātherīgāthā

5 Tissā, apply yourself to good qualities—
don’t let the moment pass you by.
For if you miss your moment,
you’ll grieve when sent to hell.

5p_19Th2_10"Tisse yuñjassu dhammehi,
khaṇo taṁ mā upaccagā;
Khaṇātītā hi socanti,
nirayamhi samappitā"ti.

Dhīrā

Dhīrātherīgāthā

6 Dhīrā, touch cessation,
the blissful stilling of perception.
Win extinguishment,
the supreme sanctuary.

6 p_19Th2_12"Dhīre nirodhaṁ phusehi,
Saññāvūpasamaṁ sukhaṁ;
Ārādhayāhi nibbānaṁ,
Yogakkhemamanuttaran"ti.

Vīrā

Vīrātherīgāthā

7 She’s known as Vīrā because of her heroic qualities,
a nun with faculties developed.
She bears her final body,
having vanquished Māra and his mount.

7p_19Th2_14"Vīrā vīrehi dhammehi,
bhikkhunī bhāvitindriyā;
Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ,
jetvā māraṁ savāhinin"ti.

Mittā (1st)

Mittātherīgāthā

8 Having gone forth out of faith,
appreciate your spiritual friends, Mittā.
Develop skillful qualities
for the sake of finding sanctuary.

8p_19Th2_16"Saddhāya pabbajitvāna,
mitte mittaratā bhava;
Bhāvehi kusale dhamme,
yogakkhemassa pattiyā"ti.

Bhadrā

Bhadrātherīgāthā

9 Having gone forth out of faith,
appreciate your blessings, Bhadrā.
Develop skillful qualities
for the sake of the supreme sanctuary.

9p_19Th2_18"Saddhāya pabbajitvāna,
bhadre bhadraratā bhava;
Bhāvehi kusale dhamme,
yogakkhemamanuttaran"ti.

Upasamā

Upasamātherīgāthā

10 Upasamā, cross the flood,
Death’s domain so hard to pass.
When you have vanquished Māra and his mount,
bear your final body.

10p_19Th2_20"Upasame tare oghaṁ,
maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ;
Dhārehi antimaṁ dehaṁ,
jetvā māraṁ savāhinin"ti.

Mutta (2nd)

Muttātherīgāthā

11I’m well freed, so very well freed,
freed from the three things that bent me over:
the mortar, the pestle,
and my humpbacked husband.
I’m freed from birth and death;
the conduit to rebirth is eradicated.

11p_19Th2_22"Sumuttā sādhumuttāmhi,
tīhi khujjehi muttiyā;
Udukkhalena musalena,
patinā khujjakena ca;
Muttāmhi jātimaraṇā,
bhavanetti samūhatā"ti.

Dhammadinnā

Dhammadinnātherīgāthā

12 One who is eager and determined
would be filled with awareness.
Their mind not bound to pleasures of sense,
they’re said to be heading upstream.

12p_19Th2_24"Chandajātā avasāyī,
Manasā ca phuṭā siyā;
Kāmesu appaṭibaddhacittā,
Uddhaṁsotāti vuccatī"ti.

Visākhā

Visākhātherīgāthā

13 Do the Buddha’s bidding,
you won’t regret it.
Having quickly washed your feet,
sit in a discreet place to meditate.

13p_19Th2_26"Karotha buddhasāsanaṁ,
yaṁ katvā nānutappati;
Khippaṁ pādāni dhovitvā,
ekamante nisīdathā"ti.

Sumanā

Sumanātherīgāthā

14 Having seen the elements as suffering,
don’t get reborn again.
When you’ve discarded desire for rebirth,
you will live at peace.

14p_19Th2_28"Dhātuyo dukkhato disvā,
mā jātiṁ punarāgami;
Bhave chandaṁ virājetvā,
upasantā carissasī"ti.

Uttarā (1st)

Uttarātherīgāthā

15 I was restrained
in body, speech, and mind.
Having plucked out craving, root and all,
I’m cooled and quenched.

15 p_19Th2_30"Kāyena saṁvutā āsiṁ,
vācāya uda cetasā;
Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,
sītibhūtāmhi nibbutā"ti.

Sumanā, Who Went Forth Late in Life

Vuḍḍhapabbajitasumanātherīgāthā

16 Sleep softly, old lady,
wrapped in the cloth you sewed yourself;
for your desire has been quelled,
you’re cooled and quenched.

16p_19Th2_32"Sukhaṁ tvaṁ vuḍḍhike sehi,
katvā coḷena pārutā;
Upasanto hi te rāgo,
sītibhūtāsi nibbutā"ti.

Dhamma

Dhammātherīgāthā

17 I wandered for alms
though feeble, leaning on a staff.
My limbs wobbled
and I fell to the ground right there.
Seeing the danger of the body,
my mind was freed.

17p_19Th2_34"Piṇḍapātaṁ caritvāna,
daṇḍamolubbha dubbalā;
Vedhamānehi gattehi,
tattheva nipatiṁ chamā;
Disvā ādīnavaṁ kāye,
atha cittaṁ vimucci me"ti.

Saṇghā

Saṇghātherīgāthā

18 I gave up my home, my child, my cattle,
and all that I love, and went forth.
And now that I’ve given up desire and hate,
dispelled ignorance,
and plucked out craving, root and all,
I’m at peace, I’m quenched.

18p_19Th2_36"Hitvā ghare pabbajitvā,
hitvā puttaṁ pasuṁ piyaṁ;
Hitvā rāgañca dosañca,
avijjañca virājiya;
Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,
upasantāmhi nibbutā"ti.