Sutta Piṭaka
Subhākammāradhītutherīgāthā
Subhākammāradhītutherīgāthā
“Daharāhaṁ suddhavasanā, yaṁ pure dhammamassuṇiṁ; Tassā me appamattāya, saccābhisamayo ahu.
Subhā, the Smith’s Daughter
“I was so young, my clothes so fresh, at that time I heard the teaching. Being diligent, I comprehended the truth;
Tatohaṁ sabbakāmesu, bhusaṁ aratimajjhagaṁ; Sakkāyasmiṁ bhayaṁ disvā, nekkhammameva pīhaye.
and then I became profoundly dispassionate toward all sensual pleasures. Seeing fear in substantial reality, I longed for renunciation.
Hitvānahaṁ ñātigaṇaṁ, dāsakammakarāni ca; Gāmakhettāni phītāni, ramaṇīye pamodite.
Giving up my family circle, bonded servants and workers, and my flourishing village fields, so delightful and pleasant,
Pahāyahaṁ pabbajitā, sāpateyyamanappakaṁ; Evaṁ saddhāya nikkhamma, saddhamme suppavedite.
I went forth; all that is no small wealth. Now that I’ve renounced in faith like this, in the true teaching so well proclaimed,
Netaṁ assa patirūpaṁ, Ākiñcaññañhi patthaye; Yo jātarūpaṁ rajataṁ, Chaḍḍetvā punarāgame.
since I desire to have nothing, it would not be appropriate to take back gold and currency, having already got rid of them.
Rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ vā, na bodhāya na santiyā; Netaṁ samaṇasāruppaṁ, na etaṁ ariyaddhanaṁ.
Currency or gold doesn’t lead to peace and awakening. It doesn’t befit an ascetic; it’s not the wealth of the noble ones;
Lobhanaṁ madanañcetaṁ, mohanaṁ rajavaḍḍhanaṁ; Sāsaṅkaṁ bahuāyāsaṁ, natthi cettha dhuvaṁ ṭhiti.
it’s greed and vanity, confusion and growing decadence, dubious and troublesome— there is nothing lasting there.
Ettha rattā pamattā ca, saṅkiliṭṭhamanā narā; Aññamaññena byāruddhā, puthu kubbanti medhagaṁ.
Depraved and heedless, unenlightened folk, their hearts corrupt, fight each other, creating conflict.
Vadho bandho parikleso, jāni sokapariddavo; Kāmesu adhipannānaṁ, dissate byasanaṁ bahuṁ.
Killing, caging, misery, loss, grief, and lamentation; those sunk in sensual pleasures see many disastrous things.
Taṁ maṁ ñātī amittāva, kiṁ vo kāmesu yuñjatha; Jānātha maṁ pabbajitaṁ, kāmesu bhayadassiniṁ.
My family, why do you urge me on to pleasures, as if you were my enemies? You know I’ve gone forth, seeing fear in sensual pleasures.
Na hiraññasuvaṇṇena, parikkhīyanti āsavā; Amittā vadhakā kāmā, sapattā sallabandhanā.
It’s not due to gold, coined or uncoined, that defilements come to an end. Sensual pleasures are enemies and killers, hostile forces that bind you to thorns.
Taṁ maṁ ñātī amittāva, kiṁ vo kāmesu yuñjatha; Jānātha maṁ pabbajitaṁ, muṇḍaṁ saṅghāṭipārutaṁ.
My family, why do you urge me on to pleasures, as if you were my enemies? You know I’ve gone forth, shaven, wrapped in my outer robe.
Uttiṭṭhapiṇḍo uñcho ca, paṁsukūlañca cīvaraṁ; Etaṁ kho mama sāruppaṁ, anagārūpanissayo.
Leftovers as gleanings, and cast-off rags as robes— that’s what’s fitting for me, the essentials of the homeless life.
Vantā mahesīhi kāmā, ye dibbā ye ca mānusā; Khemaṭṭhāne vimuttā te, pattā te acalaṁ sukhaṁ.
Great seers expel sensual pleasures, both human and heavenly. Safe in their sanctuary, they are freed, having found unshakable happiness.
Māhaṁ kāmehi saṅgacchiṁ, yesu tāṇaṁ na vijjati; Amittā vadhakā kāmā, aggikkhandhūpamā dukhā.
May I not encounter sensual pleasures, for no shelter is found in them. Sensual pleasures are enemies and killers, as painful as a mass of fire.
Paripantho esa bhayo, savighāto sakaṇṭako; Gedho suvisamo ceso, mahanto mohanāmukho.
This is a roadblock, a threat, full of distress and thorns; it is a blind spot, uneven, a great gateway to confusion.
Upasaggo bhīmarūpo, kāmā sappasirūpamā; Ye bālā abhinandanti, andhabhūtā puthujjanā.
Hazardous and terrifying, sensual pleasures are like a cobra’s head, where fools delight, the blind ordinary folk.
Kāmapaṅkena sattā hi, bahū loke aviddasū; Pariyantaṁ na jānanti, jātiyā maraṇassa ca.
Stuck in the swamp of sensuality, there are so many ignorant in the world. They know nothing of the end of rebirth and death.
Duggatigamanaṁ maggaṁ, manussā kāmahetukaṁ; Bahuṁ ve paṭipajjanti, attano rogamāvahaṁ.
Because of sensual pleasures, people jump right on to the path that goes to a bad place. So many walk the path that brings disease onto themselves.
Evaṁ amittajananā, tāpanā saṅkilesikā; Lokāmisā bandhanīyā, kāmā maraṇabandhanā.
That’s how sensual pleasures create enemies; they are so tormenting, so corrupting, trapping beings with worldly pleasures of the flesh, they are nothing less than the bonds of death.
Ummādanā ullapanā, kāmā cittappamaddino; Sattānaṁ saṅkilesāya, khippaṁ mārena oḍḍitaṁ.
Maddening, enticing, sensual pleasures derange the mind. For the corruption of beings, swiftly ensnared by Māra.
Anantādīnavā kāmā, bahudukkhā mahāvisā; Appassādā raṇakarā, sukkapakkhavisosanā.
Sensual pleasures are infinitely dangerous, they’re full of suffering, a terrible poison; offering little gratification, they’re makers of strife, withering bright qualities away.
Sāhaṁ etādisaṁ katvā, byasanaṁ kāmahetukaṁ; Na taṁ paccāgamissāmi, nibbānābhiratā sadā.
Since I’ve created so much ruination because of sensual pleasures, I will not relapse to them again, but will always delight in extinguishment.
Raṇaṁ karitvā kāmānaṁ, sītibhāvābhikaṅkhinī; Appamattā vihassāmi, sabbasaṁyojanakkhaye.
Having once made strife for the sake of sensual pleasures, now I am longing for that cool state. I shall meditate diligently for the ending of all fetters.
Asokaṁ virajaṁ khemaṁ, ariyaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ ujuṁ; Taṁ maggaṁ anugacchāmi, yena tiṇṇā mahesino”.
Sorrowless, stainless, secure— I follow that path, the straight noble eightfold way by which the seers have crossed over.”
“Imaṁ passatha dhammaṭṭhaṁ, subhaṁ kammāradhītaraṁ; Anejaṁ upasampajja, rukkhamūlamhi jhāyati.
“Look at this: Subhā the smith’s daughter, standing firm in the teaching. She has entered the imperturbable state, meditating at the root of a tree.
Ajjaṭṭhamī pabbajitā, saddhā saddhammasobhanā; Vinītuppalavaṇṇāya, tevijjā maccuhāyinī.
It’s just eight days since she went forth, the faithful one, grace of the true teaching. Guided by Uppalavaṇṇā, she is master of the three knowledges, conqueror of death.
Sāyaṁ bhujissā anaṇā, bhikkhunī bhāvitindriyā; Sabbayogavisaṁyuttā, katakiccā anāsavā”.
This one is freed from slavery and debt, a nun with faculties developed. Unyoked from all yokes, she has completed the task and is free of defilements.”
Taṁ sakko devasaṅghena, upasaṅkamma iddhiyā; Namassati bhūtapati, subhaṁ kammāradhītaranti.
Thus did Sakka, lord of all creatures, along with a host of gods, having come by their psychic powers, honor Subhā, the smith’s daughter.