15. The Book of the Forties

1. Verses of the Elder Nun Isidāsī

402.

In the city named Kusuma, in Pāṭaliputta, the ornament of the earth;

Two nuns indeed, virtuous ones, of noble birth from the Sakyan clan.

403.

Isidāsī was one of them there, the second was Bodhī - both accomplished in morality;

Delighted in the practice of meditative absorption, very learned, with mental defilements shaken off.

404.

They, having walked for almsfood, having finished the meal, with washed bowls;

Comfortably seated in a secluded place, uttered these words.

405.

"You are lovely, lady, Isidāsī, and your youth is not fallen away;

Having seen what fault, then were you engaged in renunciation?"

406.

Being thus questioned, she, skilled in teaching the Dhamma in a secluded place;

Isidāsī spoke these words, "Listen Bodhī, how I went forth.

407.

"In the excellent city of Ujjenī, my father was a millionaire restrained in morality;

I was his only daughter, dear, agreeable, and beloved.

408.

Then suitors came to me from Sāketa, of the highest lineage;

A millionaire with abundant wealth, to him my father gave me as daughter-in-law.

409.

"To my mother-in-law and father-in-law, evening and morning, having approached with salutation;

With my head I do homage at their feet, I pay respect as I have been instructed.

410.

"Whoever were my husband's sisters, brothers or attendants;

Having seen even one of them, agitated I give a seat.

411.

"With food and drink, with hard food and whatever is placed there;

I conceal and bring near, and I give what is suitable for whom.

412.

"Having attended at the proper time, I approach the house at the threshold;

Washing hands and feet, with joined palms I go to my husband.

413.

"Having taken comb, cosmetics, eye ointment, and mirror;

Like a personal attendant, I myself adorn my husband.

414.

I myself prepare the cooked rice, I myself washing the vessel;

Like a mother her only son, so I attend to my husband.

415.

"Though I was thus devoted, affectionate, industrious, and humble,

Active and not lazy, virtuous - my husband became angry with me.

416.

"He speaks to mother and father, 'Having asked permission, I shall go;

With Isidāsī I shall not dwell, in one house with her I shall not live.'

417.

"'Do not speak thus, son, Isidāsī is wise and experienced;

Industrious and not lazy, why does she not please you, son?'

418.

"'She does not harm me in anything, yet with Isidāsī I shall not dwell;

She is disagreeable to me, enough for me, without asking I shall go.'

419.

"Having heard his word, my mother-in-law and father-in-law asked me:

'What wrong has been done by you? Speak freely, as it really is.'

420.

"'I do not offend in anything, nor do I harm nor speak harsh words;

What can be done, lady, when my husband feels enmity towards me?'

421.

They led me back to my father's house, displeased and overcome by suffering;

'While protecting our son, we have lost a beautiful fortune.'

422.

Then my father gave me to the house of a wealthy man, a second man of good family;

For half the price by which you, millionaire, obtained me.

423.

"In his house too I lived for a month, then he too rejected me;

Though I attended on him like a slave, blameless and accomplished in morality.

424.

"My father speaks to one wandering for alms, a tamer, tamed:

'You will be my son-in-law, put down the cloth and the bowl.'

425.

"He too, having stayed a fortnight, then speaks to father, 'Give me my cloth;

And the bowl and the vessel, I shall walk for almsfood again.'

426.

Then my father, mother, and all my group of relatives spoke to him:

'What is not done for you here? Speak quickly, that will be done for you.'

427.

"Thus spoken to, he speaks, 'If my self is able, enough for me;

With Isidāsī I shall not dwell, in one house with her I shall not live.'

428.

"Dismissed, he went, and I alone pondered;

'Having asked permission I shall go, either to die or to go forth.'

429.

"Then the lady Jinadattā came, walking for her food resort;

To my father's family, a bearer of the discipline, very learned, accomplished in morality.

430.

Having seen her at our home, I rose and prepared a seat for her;

And having paid homage at her feet while she was seated, I gave her food.

431.

"With food and drink, with hard food and whatever is placed there;

Having satisfied her, I said, 'Lady, I wish to go forth.'

432.

Then my father spoke to me: "Right here, dear son, practise the Teaching;

With food and drink, satisfy ascetics and brahmins."

433.

"Then I speak to father, weeping, having extended joined palms in salutation;

'For evil was done by me, that action I will destroy.'

434.

Then my father spoke to me: "Attain enlightenment and the foremost teaching;

And may you obtain Nibbāna, which the foremost of bipeds realized."

435.

"Having paid respect to my mother and father, and to all the groups of relatives;

Seven days after going forth, I attained the three true knowledges.

436.

"I know my own seven births, of which this is the resultant fruit;

That I shall tell you, listen to that with undivided mind.

437.

"In the city of Erakaccha, I was a goldsmith with abundant wealth;

Intoxicated by the pride of youth, I resorted to another's wife.

438.

"I, having passed away from there, was cooked in hell for a long time;

Having risen from there when fully cooked, I entered the womb of a female monkey.

439.

"When I was seven days old, the great monkey, the leader of the herd, castrated me;

This is the fruit of that action, just as I had gone to another's wife.

440.

"I, having passed away from there, having died in the Sindh forest;

I entered the womb of a she-goat, one-eyed and lame.

441.

"For twelve years I, having been castrated, carried children on my back;

Afflicted by worms, unhealthy, just as I had gone to another's wife.

442.

"I, having passed away from there, was born as a cow of a cattle dealer;

A calf, copper-coloured like lac, castrated at twelve months.

443.

"Having drawn the plough, I bear the cart;

Blind and afflicted, unhealthy, just as I had gone to another's wife.

444.

"I, having passed away from there, was born in the house of a female slave on the street;

Neither a woman nor a man, just as I had gone to another's wife.

445.

"Having died at thirty years, I was born as a girl in a carter's family;

In a poor one with little wealth, beset by many creditors.

446.

"Me, from there, the caravan leader, with abundant, extensive interest;

Drags away wailing, having taken by force from the family home.

447.

Then in my sixteenth year, having seen me as a maiden who had reached youth;

The son of Orundhata, Giridāsa by name.

448.

"He too had another wife, moral, virtuous, and famous;

Devoted to her husband - towards her I caused enmity.

449.

"This is the fruit of that action, that having cast me aside they go;

Though I attended on him like a slave, an end to that too has been made by me."

... The Elder Nun Isidāsī...

The Book of Forties is concluded.

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The Book of the Forties

1.

Verses of the Elder Nun Isidāsī

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