Thig 10.1

Kisāgotamītherīgāthā

“Kalyāṇamittatā muninā, lokaṁ ādissa vaṇṇitā; Kalyāṇamitte bhajamāno, api bālo paṇḍito assa.

Kisāgotamī

“Pointing out how the world works, the sages have praised good friendship. Associating with good friends, even a fool becomes astute.

Bhajitabbā sappurisā, Paññā tathā vaḍḍhati bhajantānaṁ; Bhajamāno sappurise, Sabbehipi dukkhehi pamucceyya.

Associate with true persons, for that is how wisdom grows. Should you associate with true persons, you would be freed from all suffering.

Dukkhañca vijāneyya, Dukkhassa ca samudayaṁ nirodhaṁ; Aṭṭhaṅgikañca maggaṁ, Cattāripi ariyasaccāni”.

And you would understand suffering, its origin and cessation, the eightfold path, and so the four noble truths.”

“Dukkho itthibhāvo, Akkhāto purisadammasārathinā; Sapattikampi hi dukkhaṁ, Appekaccā sakiṁ vijātāyo.

“‘A woman’s life is painful,’ explained the Buddha, guide for those fit to train, ‘and for a co-wife it’s especially so. After giving birth just once,

Galake api kantanti, Sukhumāliniyo visāni khādanti; Janamārakamajjhagatā, Ubhopi byasanāni anubhonti”.

some women even cut their own throat, while delicate ladies take poison. Being guilty of killing a person, they both undergo ruin.’”

“Upavijaññā gacchantī, addasāhaṁ patiṁ mataṁ; Panthamhi vijāyitvāna, appattāva sakaṁ gharaṁ.

“I was on the road, near to giving birth, when I saw my husband dead. I gave birth there on the road before I’d reached my own house.

Dve puttā kālakatā, Patī ca panthe mato kapaṇikāya; Mātā pitā ca bhātā, Ḍayhanti ca ekacitakāyaṁ”.

My two children have died, and on the road my husband lies dead—oh woe is me! Mother, father, and brother all burning up on the same pyre.”

“Khīṇakulīne kapaṇe, Anubhūtaṁ te dukhaṁ aparimāṇaṁ; Assū ca te pavattaṁ, Bahūni ca jātisahassāni.

“Oh woe is you whose family is lost, the suffering you have undergone has no measure; you have been shedding tears for many thousands of lives.”

Vasitā susānamajjhe, Athopi khāditāni puttamaṁsāni; Hatakulikā sabbagarahitā, Matapatikā amatamadhigacchiṁ.

“While staying in the charnel ground, I saw my son’s flesh being eaten. With my family destroyed, condemned by all, and my husband dead, I realized freedom from death.

Bhāvito me maggo, Ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko amatagāmī; Nibbānaṁ sacchikataṁ, Dhammādāsaṁ avekkhiṁhaṁ.

I’ve developed the noble eightfold path leading to freedom from death. I’ve realized extinguishment, as seen in the mirror of the Dhamma.

Ahamamhi kantasallā, Ohitabhārā katañhi karaṇīyaṁ; Kisā gotamī therī, Vimuttacittā imaṁ bhaṇī”ti.

I’ve plucked out the dart, laid down the burden, and done what needed to be done.” The senior nun Kisāgotamī, her mind released, said this.