Thig 11.1

Uppalavaṇṇātherīgāthā

“Ubho mātā ca dhītā ca, mayaṁ āsuṁ sapattiyo; Tassā me ahu saṁvego, abbhuto lomahaṁsano.

Uppalavaṇṇā

“The two of us were co-wives, though we were mother and daughter. I was struck with a sense of urgency, so astonishing and hair-raising!

Dhiratthu kāmā asucī, duggandhā bahukaṇṭakā; Yattha mātā ca dhītā ca, sabhariyā mayaṁ ahuṁ.

Curse those filthy sensual pleasures, so nasty and thorny, where we, both mother and daughter, had to be co-wives together.

Kāmesvādīnavaṁ disvā, nekkhammaṁ daṭṭhu khemato; Sā pabbajjiṁ rājagahe, agārasmānagāriyaṁ.

Seeing the danger in sensual pleasures, seeing renunciation as sanctuary, I went forth in Rājagaha from the lay life to homelessness.

Pubbenivāsaṁ jānāmi, dibbacakkhu visodhitaṁ; Cetopariccañāṇañca, sotadhātu visodhitā.

I know my past lives; my clairvoyance is clarified; I encompass the minds of others; my clairaudience is purified;

Iddhīpi me sacchikatā, patto me āsavakkhayo; Chaḷabhiññā sacchikatā, kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

I’ve realized the psychic powers, and attained the ending of defilements. I’ve realized the six kinds of direct knowledge, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

Iddhiyā abhinimmitvā, caturassaṁ rathaṁ ahaṁ; Buddhassa pāde vanditvā, lokanāthassa tādino”.

I created a four-horsed chariot using my psychic powers. Then I bowed at the feet of the Buddha, the glorious protector of the world.”

“Supupphitaggaṁ upagamma pādapaṁ, Ekā tuvaṁ tiṭṭhasi sālamūle; Na cāpi te dutiyo atthi koci, Bāle na tvaṁ bhāyasi dhuttakānaṁ”.

“You’ve come to this sal tree all crowned with flowers, and stand at its root all alone. But you have no male companion with you— silly girl, aren’t you afraid of rascals?”

“Sataṁ sahassānipi dhuttakānaṁ, Samāgatā edisakā bhaveyyuṁ; Lomaṁ na iñje napi sampavedhe, Kiṁ me tuvaṁ māra karissaseko.

“Even if 100,000 rascals like this were to gang up, I’d stir not a hair nor tremble. What could you do to me all alone, Māra?

Esā antaradhāyāmi, kucchiṁ vā pavisāmi te; Bhamukantare tiṭṭhāmi, tiṭṭhantiṁ maṁ na dakkhasi.

I’ll vanish, or I’ll enter your belly; I could stand between your eyebrows and you still wouldn’t see me.

Cittamhi vasībhūtāhaṁ, iddhipādā subhāvitā; Chaḷabhiññā sacchikatā, kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

I’m the master of my own mind, I’ve developed the bases of psychic power well. I’ve realized the six kinds of direct knowledge, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

Sattisūlūpamā kāmā, khandhāsaṁ adhikuṭṭanā; Yaṁ tvaṁ ‘kāmaratiṁ’ brūsi, ‘āratī’ dāni sā mama.

Sensual pleasures are like swords and spears; the aggregates are their chopping block. What you call erotic delight is now no delight for me.

Sabbattha vihatā nandī, Tamokhandho padālito; Evaṁ jānāhi pāpima, Nihato tvamasi antakā”ti.

Relishing is banished in every respect, and the mass of darkness is shattered. So know this, Wicked One: you’re beaten, terminator!”