Thig 12.1

Puṇṇātherīgāthā

“Udahārī ahaṁ sīte, sadā udakamotariṁ; Ayyānaṁ daṇḍabhayabhītā, vācādosabhayaṭṭitā.

Puṇṇikā

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

Kassa brāhmaṇa tvaṁ bhīto, sadā udakamotari; Vedhamānehi gattehi, sītaṁ vedayase bhusaṁ”.

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

“Jānantī vata maṁ bhoti, puṇṇike paripucchasi; Karontaṁ kusalaṁ kammaṁ, rundhantaṁ katapāpakaṁ.

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

Yo ca vuḍḍho daharo vā, pāpakammaṁ pakubbati; Dakābhisecanā sopi, pāpakammā pamuccati”.

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

“Ko nu te idamakkhāsi, ajānantassa ajānako; Dakābhisecanā nāma, pāpakammā pamuccati.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

If these rivers had carried away your bad deeds in the past, they would also carry away your good deeds, from which you’d be prevented.

Yassa brāhmaṇa tvaṁ bhīto, sadā udakamotari; Tameva brahme mā kāsi, mā te sītaṁ chaviṁ hane”.

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.”

“Kummaggapaṭipannaṁ maṁ, ariyamaggaṁ samānayi; Dakābhisecanā bhoti, imaṁ sāṭaṁ dadāmi te”.

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

“Tuyheva sāṭako hotu, nāhamicchāmi sāṭakaṁ; Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa, sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ.

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

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

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

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

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

Upehi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ, dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ; Samādiyāhi sīlāni, taṁ te atthāya hehiti”.

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

“Upemi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ, dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ; Samādiyāmi sīlāni, taṁ me atthāya hehiti.

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

Brahmabandhu pure āsiṁ, ajjamhi saccabrāhmaṇo; Tevijjo vedasampanno, sottiyo camhi nhātako”ti.

I used to be brahmin only by kin, today I truly am a brahmin! Master of the three knowledges, accomplished in wisdom, I’m a scholar, a bathed initiate.”