14. The Book of the Thirties

1. Verses of the Elder Nun Subhā of Jīvaka's Mango Grove

368.

Going to the delightful Jīvaka's Mango Grove, the nun Subhā;

A scoundrel blocked her way, Subhā said this to him.

369.

"What wrong have I done to you, that you stand blocking my way?

For indeed, friend, it is not allowable for a man to touch one gone forth.

370.

"In my Teacher's instruction which is weighty, the training taught by the Fortunate One;

The state of purity, without blemish, why do you stand blocking my way?

371.

"With a disturbed mind, you approach one undisturbed, with impurity, one free from impurity, without blemish;

With a mind liberated everywhere, why do you stand blocking my way?"

372.

"You are young and not evil, what will going forth do for you?

Put down the ochre robe, come, let us delight in the forest covered with flowers.

373.

"And the trees, risen with flower pollen, waft sweetness all around;

The first month of spring is a pleasant season, come, let us delight in the forest covered with flowers.

374.

"And the trees with flowering tops, stirred by the wind, seem to roar;

What delight will there be for you, if you enter the forest alone?

375.

"Frequented by packs of beasts of prey, disturbed by bull elephants and she-elephants;

Without a companion you wish to go, to the deserted, terrifying great forest.

376.

"Like a doll made of gold, you wander about like a nymph in the Cittalatā garden;

In fine Kāsi cloth, soft and lovely, you shine in beautiful garments, incomparable.

377.

"I would be obedient to you, if we were to dwell in the forest;

For indeed there is no being dearer to me than you, O round-eyed one like a kinnarī.

378.

"If you will do my bidding, come happily and dwell in a house;

Dwelling in sheltered mansions, let women attend upon you.

379.

"Wear fine Kāsi cloth, and adorn yourself with garlands and cosmetics;

I shall make for you abundant ornaments of gold, jewels and pearls, of various kinds.

380.

"A beautiful bed with well-washed dust-free covering, newly spread with woollen carpet and cotton quilt;

Ascend this very precious couch, fragrant with the essence of sandalwood adorned;

381.

"Like a waterlily risen from the water, as one frequented by non-human spirits;

So you, practitioner of the holy life, will go to old age with your hair and limbs untouched."

382.

"What here do you consider essential, in this corpse-filled, cemetery-augmenting,

Perishable body, seeing which, displeased, you look up?"

383.

"Your eyes are like a doe's, like a kinnara woman's in the mountain caves;

Having seen your eyes, my amorous enjoyment grows more and more.

384.

"Your eyelashes are like the tips of blue lotuses, on your spotless face resembling gold;

Having seen your eyes, my sensual pleasure grows more and more.

385.

"Even when gone far away, I shall remember you, O one with long eyelashes and pure vision;

For indeed there are no eyes dearer to me than yours, O round-eyed one like a kinnarī."

386.

"You wish to travel by a wrong path, you seek the moon as a plaything;

You wish to jump over Meru, you who pursue a daughter of the Buddha.

387.

"There is not indeed in the world with its gods, any object where lust could now arise in me;

Nor do I know what it is like, for it has been destroyed with its root by the path.

388.

"Cast away like a charcoal pit, removed from the fire like a poison bowl;

Nor do I see what it is like, for it has been destroyed with its root by the path.

389.

"For one whose [practice] would be unconsidered, or whose Teacher would be unattended;

You should entice such a one, but you vex yourself with this one who knows.

390.

"For me, whether reviled or honoured, in pleasure and pain, mindfulness is established;

Knowing the conditioned as foul, my mind does not cling to anything at all.

391.

"I am a female disciple of the Fortunate One, travelling by the vehicle of the Eightfold Path;

With the dart removed, without mental corruptions, gone to an empty dwelling, I rejoice.

392.

"For I have seen well-painted figures, dolls or wooden puppets;

Bound with strings and pegs, dancing in various ways.

393.

When the strings and pegs are pulled out, released, separated, scattered about;

One would not find it when made into pieces, on what there should one fix the mind?

394.

"Such is the simile for my bodily parts, without those phenomena they do not exist;

Without phenomena it does not exist, on what there should one fix the mind?

395.

"Just as one might see a picture on a wall, smeared with yellow orpiment;

In that your vision is distorted, the perception of a human woman is meaningless.

396.

"Like a magical illusion made in front, like a golden tree in a dream;

You approach, blind one, what is void, like a silver figure in the midst of people.

397.

"Like a ball of lac placed in a hollow, in the middle a water bubble with tears;

And here a boil and abscess arises, various eye components are massed together."

398.

Having plucked out the lovely to behold, she did not fall into attachment, with unattached mind;

"Come, take this eye of yours," she gave it to that man at that very moment.

399.

And his lust ceased at that very moment, and he asked her forgiveness there;

"May there be well-being for you, practitioner of the holy life, such a thing will not happen again."

400.

"Having assailed such a person, like clasping a blazing fire;

Like grasping a venomous snake, could there be well-being? Forgive us."

401.

Released from that, the nun went to the presence of the excellent Buddha;

Having seen him possessing the signs of uttermost merits, her eye became as it was before.

... The Elder Nun Subhā of Jīvaka's Mango Grove...

The Book of Thirties is concluded.

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14.

The Book of the Thirties

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Verses of the Elder Nun Subhā of Jīvaka's Mango Grove

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