Puṇṇikā

Puṇṇātherīgāthā

236 “I used to be a water-carrier. Even when it was cold,
I would always plunge into the water,
afraid of my mistresses’ beatings,
harassed by fear of abuse and anger.

236 p_19Th2_312"Udahārī ahaṁ sīte,
sadā udakamotariṁ;
Ayyānaṁ daṇḍabhayabhītā,
vācādosabhayaṭṭitā.

237 Brahmin, what are you afraid of,
that you always plunge into the water,
your limbs trembling
in the freezing cold?”

237p_19Th2_313Kassa brāhmaṇa tvaṁ bhīto,
sadā udakamotari;
Vedhamānehi gattehi,
sītaṁ vedayase bhusaṁ".

238 “Oh, but you already know,
Madam Puṇṇikā, when you ask me:
I am doing good deeds,
to ward off the wickedness I have done.

238p_19Th2_314"Jānantī vata maṁ bhoti,
puṇṇike paripucchasi;
Karontaṁ kusalaṁ kammaṁ,
rundhantaṁ katapāpakaṁ.

239 Whosoever young or old
performs a wicked deed,
by ablution in water they are
released from their wicked deed.”

239p_19Th2_315Yo ca vuḍḍho daharo vā,
pāpakammaṁ pakubbati;
Dakābhisecanā sopi,
pāpakammā pamuccati".

240 “Who on earth told you this,
one ignoramus to another:
‘Actually, by ablution in water one is
released from a wicked deed.’

240p_19Th2_316"Ko nu te idamakkhāsi,
ajānantassa ajānako;
Dakābhisecanā nāma,
pāpakammā pamuccati.

241 Would not they all go to heaven, then:
all the frogs and the turtles,
gharials, crocodiles,
and other water-dwellers too?

241p_19Th2_317Saggaṁ nūna gamissanti,
sabbe maṇḍūkakacchapā;
Nāgā ca susumārā ca,
ye caññe udake carā.

242 Butchers of sheep and pigs,
fishermen, animal trappers,
bandits, executioners,
and others of evil deeds:
by ablution in water they too would be
released from their wicked deeds.

242p_19Th2_318Orabbhikā sūkarikā,
macchikā migabandhakā;
Corā ca vajjhaghātā ca,
ye caññe pāpakammino;
Dakābhisecanā tepi,
pāpakammā pamuccare.

243 If these rivers washed away
the bad deeds of the past,
then they’d also wash off goodness,
and thereby you would be excluded.

243p_19Th2_319Sace imā nadiyo te,
pāpaṁ pubbe kataṁ vahuṁ;
Puññampimā vaheyyuṁ te,
tena tvaṁ paribāhiro.

244 Brahmin, the thing that you are afraid of,
when you always plunge into the water,
do not do that very thing,
don’t let the cold harm your skin.”

244p_19Th2_320Yassa brāhmaṇa tvaṁ bhīto,
sadā udakamotari;
Tameva brahme mā kāsi,
mā te sītaṁ chaviṁ hane".

245 “I have been on the wrong path,
and you’ve guided me to the noble path.
Madam, I give to you
this ablution cloth.”

245p_19Th2_321"Kummaggapaṭipannaṁ maṁ,
ariyamaggaṁ samānayi;
Dakābhisecanā bhoti,
imaṁ sāṭaṁ dadāmi te".

246 “Keep the cloth for yourself,
I do not want it.
If you fear suffering,
if you don’t like suffering,

246p_19Th2_322"Tuyheva sāṭako hotu,
nāhamicchāmi sāṭakaṁ;
Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa,
sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ.

247 then don’t do bad deeds
either openly or in secret.
If you should do a bad deed,
or you’re doing one now,

247 p_19Th2_323Mākāsi pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
āvi vā yadi vā raho;
Sace ca pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
karissasi karosi vā.

248 you won’t be freed from suffering,
though you fly away and flee.
If you fear suffering,
if you don’t like suffering,

248p_19Th2_324Na te dukkhā pamutyatthi,
upeccāpi palāyato;
Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa,
sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ.

249 go for refuge to the Buddha, the poised,
to his teaching and to the Saṅgha.
Undertake the precepts,
that will be good for you.”

249p_19Th2_325Upehi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ,
dhammaṁ saṁghañca tādinaṁ;
Samādiyāhi sīlāni,
taṁ te atthāya hehiti".

250 “I go for refuge to the Buddha, the poised,
to his teaching and to the Saṅgha.
I undertake the precepts,
that will be good for me.

250p_19Th2_326"Upemi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ,
dhammaṁ saṁghañca tādinaṁ;
Samādiyāmi sīlāni,
taṁ me atthāya hehiti.

251 In the past I was related to Brahmā,
today I truly am a brahmin!
I am master of the three knowledges, accomplished in wisdom,
I’m a scholar and a bathed initiate.”

251p_19Th2_327Brahmabandhu pure āsiṁ,
ajjamhi saccabrāhmaṇo;
Tevijjo vedasampanno,
sottiyo camhi nhātako"ti.