Thig 5.6

Mittākāḷītherīgāthā

“Saddhāya pabbajitvāna, agārasmānagāriyaṁ; Vicariṁhaṁ tena tena, lābhasakkāraussukā.

Mittākāḷī

Having gone forth in faith from the lay life to homelessness, I wandered here and there, jealous of possessions and honors.

Riñcitvā paramaṁ atthaṁ, hīnamatthaṁ asevihaṁ; Kilesānaṁ vasaṁ gantvā, sāmaññatthaṁ na bujjhihaṁ.

Neglecting the highest goal, I pursued the lowest. Under the sway of corruptions, I never knew the goal of the ascetic life.

Tassā me ahu saṁvego, nisinnāya vihārake; Ummaggapaṭipannāmhi, taṇhāya vasamāgatā.

I was struck with a sense of urgency as I was sitting in my hut: “I’m walking the wrong path, under the sway of craving.

Appakaṁ jīvitaṁ mayhaṁ, jarā byādhi ca maddati; Purāyaṁ bhijjati kāyo, na me kālo pamajjituṁ.

My life is short, trampled by old age and sickness. Before this body breaks apart, there is no time for me to be careless.”

Yathābhūtamavekkhantī, khandhānaṁ udayabbayaṁ; Vimuttacittā uṭṭhāsiṁ, kataṁ buddhassa sāsanan”ti.

I examined in line with the truth the rise and fall of the aggregates. I stood up with mind liberated, having fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.