Sutta Piṭaka
Rohinītherīgāthā
Rohinītherīgāthā
“‘Samaṇā’ti bhoti supi, ‘samaṇā’ti pabujjhasi; Samaṇāneva kittesi, samaṇī nūna bhavissasi.
Rohinī
“You fell asleep saying ‘ascetics’; you woke up saying ‘ascetics’; you only praise ascetics, madam— surely you’ll become an ascetic.
Vipulaṁ annañca pānañca, samaṇānaṁ paveccasi; Rohinī dāni pucchāmi, kena te samaṇā piyā.
You provide ascetics with abundant food and drink. I ask you now, Rohiṇī: why do you like ascetics?
Akammakāmā alasā, paradattūpajīvino; Āsaṁsukā sādukāmā, kena te samaṇā piyā”.
They don’t like to work, they’re lazy, they live on charity; always on the lookout, greedy for sweets— so why do you like ascetics?”
“Cirassaṁ vata maṁ tāta, samaṇānaṁ paripucchasi; Tesaṁ te kittayissāmi, paññāsīlaparakkamaṁ.
“Dad, for a long time now you’ve questioned me about ascetics. I shall extol for you their wisdom, ethics, and vigor.
Kammakāmā analasā, kammaseṭṭhassa kārakā; Rāgaṁ dosaṁ pajahanti, tena me samaṇā piyā.
They like to work, they’re not lazy; by giving up greed and hate, they do the best kind of work— that’s why I like ascetics.
Tīṇi pāpassa mūlāni, dhunanti sucikārino; Sabbaṁ pāpaṁ pahīnesaṁ, tena me samaṇā piyā.
As for the three roots of evil, by pure deeds they shake them off. They have given up all wickedness— that’s why I like ascetics.
Kāyakammaṁ suci nesaṁ, vacīkammañca tādisaṁ; Manokammaṁ suci nesaṁ, tena me samaṇā piyā.
Their bodily actions are pure; their actions of speech likewise; their actions of mind are pure— that’s why I like ascetics.
Vimalā saṅkhamuttāva, suddhā santarabāhirā; Puṇṇā sukkāna dhammānaṁ, tena me samaṇā piyā.
Immaculate as a conch-shell, they’re pure inside and out, full of bright qualities— that’s why I like ascetics.
Bahussutā dhammadharā, ariyā dhammajīvino; Atthaṁ dhammañca desenti, tena me samaṇā piyā.
They’re learned and memorize the teaching, noble, living righteously, teaching the text and its meaning: that’s why I like ascetics.
Bahussutā dhammadharā, ariyā dhammajīvino; Ekaggacittā satimanto, tena me samaṇā piyā.
They’re learned and memorize the teaching, noble, living righteously, unified in mind, and mindful— that’s why I like ascetics.
Dūraṅgamā satimanto, mantabhāṇī anuddhatā; Dukkhassantaṁ pajānanti, tena me samaṇā piyā.
Traveling afar, and mindful, thoughtful in counsel, not restless, they understand the end of suffering— that’s why I like ascetics.
Yasmā gāmā pakkamanti, na vilokenti kiñcanaṁ; Anapekkhāva gacchanti, tena me samaṇā piyā.
When they leave a village, they don’t look back with longing, but proceed without concern— that’s why I like ascetics.
Na te saṁ koṭṭhe openti, na kumbhiṁ na khaḷopiyaṁ; Pariniṭṭhitamesānā, tena me samaṇā piyā.
They hoard no goods in storerooms, nor in pots or baskets. They seek food prepared by others— that’s why I like ascetics.
Na te hiraññaṁ gaṇhanti, na suvaṇṇaṁ na rūpiyaṁ; Paccuppannena yāpenti, tena me samaṇā piyā.
They don’t receive gold coins, or gold or silver; feeding on whatever comes that day, that’s why I like ascetics.
Nānākulā pabbajitā, nānājanapadehi ca; Aññamaññaṁ piyāyanti, tena me samaṇā piyā”.
They have gone forth from different families, even different countries, and yet they all love one another— that’s why I like ascetics.”
“Atthāya vata no bhoti, kule jātāsi rohinī; Saddhā buddhe ca dhamme ca, saṅghe ca tibbagāravā.
“Dear Rohinī, it was truly for our benefit that you were born in our family! You have faith and such keen respect for the Buddha, his teaching, and the Saṅgha.
Tuvaṁ hetaṁ pajānāsi, puññakkhettaṁ anuttaraṁ; Amhampi ete samaṇā, paṭigaṇhanti dakkhiṇaṁ.
For you understand this supreme field of merit. These ascetics will henceforth receive our religious donation, too.
Patiṭṭhito hettha yañño, vipulo no bhavissati”; “Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa, sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ.
For there we will place our sacrifice, and it shall be abundant.” “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, so idānimhi brāhmaṇo; Tevijjo sottiyo camhi, vedagū camhi nhātako”.
I used to be brahmin only by kin, now I genuinely am a brahmin. Master of the three knowledges, I’m a scholar, a knowledge master, a bathed initiate.”