Sutta Piṭaka
Subhājīvakambavanikātherīgāthā
Subhājīvakambavanikātherīgāthā
Jīvakambavanaṁ rammaṁ, Gacchantiṁ bhikkhuniṁ subhaṁ; Dhuttako sannivāresi, Tamenaṁ abravī subhā.
Subhā of Jīvaka’s Mango Grove
Going to the lovely mango grove of Jīvaka, the nun Subhā was held up by a rascal. Subhā said this to him:
“Kiṁ te aparādhitaṁ mayā, Yaṁ maṁ ovariyāna tiṭṭhasi; Na hi pabbajitāya āvuso, Puriso samphusanāya kappati.
“What harm have I done to you, that you stand in my way? Respectable sir, it’s not proper that a man should touch a woman gone forth.
Garuke mama satthusāsane, Yā sikkhā sugatena desitā; Parisuddhapadaṁ anaṅgaṇaṁ, Kiṁ maṁ ovariyāna tiṭṭhasi.
This training was taught by the Holy One, it is a serious matter in my teacher’s instructions. I am pure and rid of blemishes, so why do you stand in my way?
Āvilacitto anāvilaṁ, Sarajo vītarajaṁ anaṅgaṇaṁ; Sabbattha vimuttamānasaṁ, Kiṁ maṁ ovariyāna tiṭṭhasi”.
One whose mind is clouded against one unclouded; one who is lustful against one free of lust; unblemished, my heart is freed in every respect, so why do you stand in my way?”
“Daharā ca apāpikā casi, Kiṁ te pabbajjā karissati; Nikkhipa kāsāyacīvaraṁ, Ehi ramāma supupphite vane.
“You’re young and flawless— what will going-forth do for you? Throw away the ocher robe, come and play in the blossom grove.
Madhurañca pavanti sabbaso, Kusumarajena samuṭṭhitā dumā; Paṭhamavasanto sukho utu, Ehi ramāma supupphite vane.
Everywhere, the scent of pollen wafts sweet, born of the flowering woods. The start of spring is a happy time— come and play in the blossom grove.
Kusumitasikharā ca pādapā, Abhigajjantiva māluteritā; Kā tuyhaṁ rati bhavissati, Yadi ekā vanamogahissasi.
And trees crested with flowers cry out, as it were, in the gale. But what kind of fun will you have if you plunge into the woods all alone?
Vāḷamigasaṅghasevitaṁ, Kuñjaramattakareṇuloḷitaṁ; Asahāyikā gantumicchasi, Rahitaṁ bhiṁsanakaṁ mahāvanaṁ.
Frequented by packs of predators, and cow elephants aroused by rutting bulls; you wish to go without a friend to the deserted, awe-inspiring forest.
Tapanīyakatāva dhītikā, Vicarasi cittalateva accharā; Kāsikasukhumehi vaggubhi, Sobhasī suvasanehi nūpame.
Like a doll made of glittering gold, like a nymph wandering the park of bright vines, your matchless beauty will shine in graceful clothes of delicate Kāsian cloth.
Ahaṁ tava vasānugo siyaṁ, Yadi viharemase kānanantare; Na hi matthi tayā piyattaro, Pāṇo kinnarimandalocane.
I’ll be under your sway, if we are to stay in the forest. I love no creature more than you, O pixie with such captivating eyes.
Yadi me vacanaṁ karissasi, Sukhitā ehi agāramāvasa; Pāsādanivātavāsinī, Parikammaṁ te karontu nāriyo.
Were you to take up my invitation— ‘Come, be happy, and live in a house’— you’ll stay in a longhouse sheltered from wind; let the ladies look to your needs.
Kāsikasukhumāni dhāraya, Abhiropehi ca mālavaṇṇakaṁ; Kañcanamaṇimuttakaṁ bahuṁ, Vividhaṁ ābharaṇaṁ karomi te.
Dressed in delicate Kāsian cloth, put on your garlands and your cosmetics. I’ll make all sorts of adornments for you, of lustrous gold and gems and pearls.
Sudhotarajapacchadaṁ subhaṁ, Gonakatūlikasanthataṁ navaṁ; Abhiruha sayanaṁ mahārahaṁ, Candanamaṇḍitasāragandhikaṁ.
Climb onto a costly bed, its coverlet so clean and nice, with a new woolen mattress, so fragrant, sprinkled with sandalwood.
Uppalaṁ cudakā samuggataṁ, Yathā taṁ amanussasevitaṁ; Evaṁ tvaṁ brahmacārinī, Sakesaṅgesu jaraṁ gamissasi”.
As a blue lily risen from the water remains untouched by men, so too, O chaste and holy lady, your limbs grow old unshared.”
“Kiṁ te idha sārasammataṁ, Kuṇapapūramhi susānavaḍḍhane; Bhedanadhamme kaḷevare, Yaṁ disvā vimano udikkhasi”.
“This carcass is full of putrefaction, it swells the charnel ground, for its nature is to fall apart. What do you think is so essential in it that you stare at me so crazily?”
“Akkhīni ca tūriyāriva, Kinnariyāriva pabbatantare; Tava me nayanāni dakkhiya, Bhiyyo kāmaratī pavaḍḍhati.
“Your eyes are like those of a doe, or a pixie in the mountains; seeing them, erotic delight swells in me all the more.
Uppalasikharopamāni te, Vimale hāṭakasannibhe mukhe; Tava me nayanāni dakkhiya, Bhiyyo kāmaguṇo pavaḍḍhati.
Your eyes are like a blue lily’s bud in your flawless face shining like coruscant gold. Seeing them, sensual excitement swells in me all the more.
Api dūragatā saramhase, Āyatapamhe visuddhadassane; Na hi matthi tayā piyattaro, Nayanā kinnarimandalocane”.
Though you may wander far, I’ll still think of you, with lashes so long and eyes so bright. I love no eyes more than yours, O pixie with such bashful eyes.”
“Apathena payātumicchasi, Candaṁ kīḷanakaṁ gavesasi; Meruṁ laṅghetumicchasi, Yo tvaṁ buddhasutaṁ maggayasi.
“You’re setting out on the wrong road! You’re looking to take the moon for your toy! You’re trying to leap over Mount Meru! You, who are hunting a child of the Buddha!
Natthi hi loke sadevake, Rāgo yatthapi dāni me siyā; Napi naṁ jānāmi kīriso, Atha maggena hato samūlako.
For in this world with all its gods, there will be no more lust anywhere in me. I don’t even know what kind it could be, it’s been smashed root and all by the path.
Iṅgālakuyāva ujjhito, Visapattoriva aggito kato; Napi naṁ passāmi kīriso, Atha maggena hato samūlako.
Cast out like sparks from fiery coals, it’s worth no more than a bowl of poison. I don’t even see what kind it could be, it’s been smashed root and all by the path.
Yassā siyā apaccavekkhitaṁ, Satthā vā anupāsito siyā; Tvaṁ tādisikaṁ palobhaya, Jānantiṁ so imaṁ vihaññasi.
Well may you try to seduce the type of lady who has not reflected on these things, or who has never attended the Teacher: but this is a lady who knows—now you’re in trouble!
Mayhañhi akkuṭṭhavandite, Sukhadukkhe ca satī upaṭṭhitā; Saṅkhatamasubhanti jāniya, Sabbattheva mano na limpati.
No matter if I am reviled or praised, or feel pleasure or pain: I stay mindful. Knowing that conditions are ugly, my mind clings to nothing.
Sāhaṁ sugatassa sāvikā, Maggaṭṭhaṅgikayānayāyinī; Uddhaṭasallā anāsavā, Suññāgāragatā ramāmahaṁ.
I am a disciple of the Holy One, riding in the carriage of the eightfold path. The dart pulled out, free of defilements, I’m happy to have reached an empty place.
Diṭṭhā hi mayā sucittitā, Sombhā dārukapillakāni vā; Tantīhi ca khīlakehi ca, Vinibaddhā vividhaṁ panaccakā.
I’ve seen brightly painted dolls and wooden puppets, tied to sticks and strings, and made to dance in many ways.
Tamhuddhaṭe tantikhīlake, Vissaṭṭhe vikale parikrite; Na vindeyya khaṇḍaso kate, Kimhi tattha manaṁ nivesaye.
But when the sticks and strings are taken off— loosed, disassembled, dismantled, irrecoverable, stripped to parts— on what could the mind be fixed?
Tathūpamā dehakāni maṁ, Tehi dhammehi vinā na vattanti; Dhammehi vinā na vattati, Kimhi tattha manaṁ nivesaye.
That’s what my body is really like, without those things it can’t go on. This being so, on what could the mind be fixed?
Yathā haritālena makkhitaṁ, Addasa cittikaṁ bhittiyā kataṁ; Tamhi te viparītadassanaṁ, Saññā mānusikā niratthikā.
It’s like when you saw a mural made by painting yellow orpiment on a wall, and your vision was deceived by that— the perception ‘human’ is pointless.
Māyaṁ viya aggato kataṁ, Supinanteva suvaṇṇapādapaṁ; Upagacchasi andha rittakaṁ, Janamajjheriva rupparūpakaṁ.
Like an illusion cast before you, or a golden tree in a dream, you chase what is hollow, blind one, like a painted doll among the people.
Vaṭṭaniriva koṭarohitā, Majjhe pubbuḷakā saassukā; Pīḷakoḷikā cettha jāyati, Vividhā cakkhuvidhā ca piṇḍitā”.
Like a ball in a socket, with a pupil in the middle, and tears, and mucus comes from there as well, different eye-parts are lumped together.”
Uppāṭiya cārudassanā, Na ca pajjittha asaṅgamānasā; “Handa te cakkhuṁ harassu taṁ”, Tassa narassa adāsi tāvade.
Having plucked it out, the fair-eyed lady was undismayed, unchained in mind. “Come now, take this eye,” she said, and gave it to the man right then.
Tassa ca viramāsi tāvade, Rāgo tattha khamāpayī ca naṁ; “Sotthi siyā brahmacārinī, Na puno edisakaṁ bhavissati”.
And right then he lost his lust, and asked for her forgiveness: “May you be well, O chaste and holy lady; such a thing will not happen again.
“Āsādiya edisaṁ janaṁ, Aggiṁ pajjalitaṁva liṅgiya; Gaṇhiya āsīvisaṁ viya, Api nu sotthi siyā khamehi no”.
Attacking a person such as this is like holding on to a blazing fire, or grabbing a deadly viper! May you be well, please forgive me.”
Muttā ca tato sā bhikkhunī, Agamī buddhavarassa santikaṁ; Passiya varapuññalakkhaṇaṁ, Cakkhu āsi yathā purāṇakanti.
When that nun was released she went to the presence of the excellent Buddha. Seeing the one with excellent marks of merit, her eye became just as it was before.