Ambapālī

My hair was as black as bees, graced with curly tips; now old, it has become like hemp bark—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

“Kāḷakā bhamaravaṇṇasādisā, Vellitaggā mama muddhajā ahuṁ; Te jarāya sāṇavākasādisā, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My hair was as black as bees, “Kāḷakā bhamaravaṇṇasādisā, graced with curly tips; Vellitaggā mama muddhajā ahuṁ; now old, it has become like hemp bark—Te jarāya sāṇavākasādisā, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

Crowned with flowers, my head was as fragrant as a perfume box; now old, it smells like dog fur—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Vāsitova surabhī karaṇḍako, Pupphapūra mama uttamaṅgajo; *Pupphapūra → pupphapūraṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, pts1ed, pts2ed) | uttamaṅgajo → uttamaṅgabhūto (sya1ed, sya2ed, mr); uttamaṅgabhu (pts1ed, pts2ed)Taṁ jarāyatha salomagandhikaṁ, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

Crowned with flowers, Vāsitova surabhī karaṇḍako, my head was as fragrant as a perfume box; Pupphapūra mama uttamaṅgajo; *Pupphapūra → pupphapūraṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, pts1ed, pts2ed) | uttamaṅgajo → uttamaṅgabhūto (sya1ed, sya2ed, mr); uttamaṅgabhu (pts1ed, pts2ed)now old, it smells like dog fur—Taṁ jarāyatha salomagandhikaṁ, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My hair was as thick as a well-planted forest, it shone, parted with brush and pins; now old, it’s patchy and sparse—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Kānanaṁva sahitaṁ suropitaṁ, Kocchasūcivicitaggasobhitaṁ; Taṁ jarāya viralaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My hair was as thick as a well-planted forest, Kānanaṁva sahitaṁ suropitaṁ, it shone, parted with brush and pins; Kocchasūcivicitaggasobhitaṁ; now old, it’s patchy and sparse—Taṁ jarāya viralaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

With plaits of black and ribbons of gold, it was so pretty, adorned with braids; now old, my head’s gone bald—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Kaṇhakhandhakasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitaṁ, Sobhate suveṇīhilaṅkataṁ; Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ siraṁ kataṁ, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

With plaits of black and ribbons of gold, Kaṇhakhandhakasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitaṁ, it was so pretty, adorned with braids; Sobhate suveṇīhilaṅkataṁ; now old, my head’s gone bald—Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ siraṁ kataṁ, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My eyebrows used to look so nice, like crescents painted by an artist; now old, they droop with wrinkles—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Cittakārasukatāva lekhikā, Sobhare su bhamukā pure mama; Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My eyebrows used to look so nice, Cittakārasukatāva lekhikā, like crescents painted by an artist; Sobhare su bhamukā pure mama; now old, they droop with wrinkles—Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My eyes shone brilliant as gems, wide and indigo; ruined by age, they shine no more—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Bhassarā surucirā yathā maṇī, Nettahesumabhinīlamāyatā; Te jarāyabhihatā na sobhare, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My eyes shone brilliant as gems, Bhassarā surucirā yathā maṇī, wide and indigo; Nettahesumabhinīlamāyatā; ruined by age, they shine no more—Te jarāyabhihatā na sobhare, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My nose was like a perfect peak, lovely in my bloom of youth; now old, it’s shriveled like a pepper; the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Saṇhatuṅgasadisī ca nāsikā, Sobhate su abhiyobbanaṁ pati; Sā jarāya upakūlitā viya, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My nose was like a perfect peak, Saṇhatuṅgasadisī ca nāsikā, lovely in my bloom of youth; Sobhate su abhiyobbanaṁ pati; now old, it’s shriveled like a pepper; Sā jarāya upakūlitā viya, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My ear-lobes were so pretty, like lovingly crafted bracelets; now old, they droop with wrinkles—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Kaṅkaṇaṁva sukataṁ suniṭṭhitaṁ, Sobhare su mama kaṇṇapāḷiyo; Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My ear-lobes were so pretty, Kaṅkaṇaṁva sukataṁ suniṭṭhitaṁ, like lovingly crafted bracelets; Sobhare su mama kaṇṇapāḷiyo; now old, they droop with wrinkles—Tā jarāya valibhippalambitā, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My teeth used to be so pretty, bright as a jasmine flower; now old, they’re broken and yellow—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Pattalīmakulavaṇṇasādisā, Sobhare su dantā pure mama; Te jarāya khaṇḍitā cāsitā, *khaṇḍitā cāsitā → khaṇḍitā ca pītakā (bj), khaṇḍā yavapītakā (sya1ed)Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My teeth used to be so pretty, Pattalīmakulavaṇṇasādisā, bright as a jasmine flower; Sobhare su dantā pure mama; now old, they’re broken and yellow—Te jarāya khaṇḍitā cāsitā, *khaṇḍitā cāsitā → khaṇḍitā ca pītakā (bj), khaṇḍā yavapītakā (sya1ed)the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My singing was sweet as a cuckoo wandering in the forest groves; now old, it’s patchy and croaking—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Kānanamhi vanasaṇḍacārinī, Kokilāva madhuraṁ nikūjihaṁ; Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My singing was sweet as a cuckoo Kānanamhi vanasaṇḍacārinī, wandering in the forest groves; Kokilāva madhuraṁ nikūjihaṁ; now old, it’s patchy and croaking—Taṁ jarāya khalitaṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My neck used to be so pretty, like a polished shell of conch; now old, it’s bowed and bent—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Saṇhakamburiva suppamajjitā, Sobhate su gīvā pure mama; Sā jarāya bhaggā vināmitā, *bhaggā → bhañjitā (?)Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My neck used to be so pretty, Saṇhakamburiva suppamajjitā, like a polished shell of conch; Sobhate su gīvā pure mama; now old, it’s bowed and bent—Sā jarāya bhaggā vināmitā, *bhaggā → bhañjitā (?)the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My arms used to be so pretty, like rounded cross-bars; with age, they wrinkle and sag as a patala tree—*The patala has a characteristic bulging and wrinkly growth beneath the branches.the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Vaṭṭapalighasadisopamā ubho, Sobhare su bāhā pure mama; Tā jarāya yatha pāṭalibbalitā, *yatha pāṭalibbalitā → yathā pāṭalippalitā (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed, mr)Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My arms used to be so pretty, Vaṭṭapalighasadisopamā ubho, like rounded cross-bars; Sobhare su bāhā pure mama; with age, they wrinkle and sag as a patala tree—*The patala has a characteristic bulging and wrinkly growth beneath the branches.Tā jarāya yatha pāṭalibbalitā, *yatha pāṭalibbalitā → yathā pāṭalippalitā (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed, mr)the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My hands used to be so pretty, adorned with lovely golden rings; now old, they’re like red radishes—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Saṇhamuddikasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā, Sobhare su hatthā pure mama; Te jarāya yathā mūlamūlikā, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My hands used to be so pretty, Saṇhamuddikasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā, adorned with lovely golden rings; Sobhare su hatthā pure mama; now old, they’re like red radishes—Te jarāya yathā mūlamūlikā, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My breasts were both once so pretty, swelling, round, close-set, and perky; now they droop like water bags—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Pīnavaṭṭasahituggatā ubho, Sobhare su thanakā pure mama; *Sobhare → sobhate (sya1ed, sya2ed, pts1ed, pts2ed)Thevikīva lambanti nodakā, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My breasts were both once so pretty, Pīnavaṭṭasahituggatā ubho, swelling, round, close-set, and perky; Sobhare su thanakā pure mama; *Sobhare → sobhate (sya1ed, sya2ed, pts1ed, pts2ed)now they droop like water bags—Thevikīva lambanti nodakā, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My body used to be so pretty, like a polished slab of lustrous gold; now it’s covered with delicate wrinkles—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Kañcanassa phalakaṁva sammaṭṭhaṁ, Sobhate su kāyo pure mama; So valīhi sukhumāhi otato, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My body used to be so pretty, Kañcanassa phalakaṁva sammaṭṭhaṁ, like a polished slab of lustrous gold; Sobhate su kāyo pure mama; now it’s covered with delicate wrinkles—So valīhi sukhumāhi otato, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

Both my thighs used to be so pretty, like an elephant’s trunk; now old, they’re like bamboo—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Nāgabhogasadisopamā ubho, Sobhare su ūrū pure mama; Te jarāya yathā veḷunāḷiyo, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

Both my thighs used to be so pretty, Nāgabhogasadisopamā ubho, like an elephant’s trunk; Sobhare su ūrū pure mama; now old, they’re like bamboo—Te jarāya yathā veḷunāḷiyo, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My calves used to be so pretty, adorned with cute golden anklets; now old, they’re like sesame sticks—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Saṇhanūpurasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā, Sobhare su jaṅghā pure mama; Tā jarāya tiladaṇḍakāriva, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

My calves used to be so pretty, Saṇhanūpurasuvaṇṇamaṇḍitā, adorned with cute golden anklets; Sobhare su jaṅghā pure mama; now old, they’re like sesame sticks—Tā jarāya tiladaṇḍakāriva, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

Both my feet used to be so pretty, plump as if with cotton-wool; now old, they’re cracked and wrinkly—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Tūlapuṇṇasadisopamā ubho, Sobhare su pādā pure mama; Te jarāya phuṭitā valīmatā, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

Both my feet used to be so pretty, Tūlapuṇṇasadisopamā ubho, plump as if with cotton-wool; Sobhare su pādā pure mama; now old, they’re cracked and wrinkly—Te jarāya phuṭitā valīmatā, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā.

This bag of bones once was such, but now it’s withered, home to so much pain; like a house in decay with plaster crumbling—the word of the truthful one is confirmed.

Ediso ahu ayaṁ samussayo, Jajjaro bahudukkhānamālayo; Sopalepapatito jarāgharo, Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā”.

This bag of bones once was such, Ediso ahu ayaṁ samussayo, but now it’s withered, home to so much pain; Jajjaro bahudukkhānamālayo; like a house in decay with plaster crumbling—Sopalepapatito jarāgharo, the word of the truthful one is confirmed. Saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā”.