Walt 693 The Victor, Padumuttara,
was a Master of Everything.
That Leader arose in the world
one hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1Walt 694 I then lived in Haṁsavatī,
born in an undistinguished clan.
Having approached the Best of Men,
I went to him as my refuge. Verse 2Walt 695 And I listened to his Dhamma,
containing the Four Noble Truths,
supremely sweet like honey, which
brings happiness and mental peace. Verse 3Walt 696 One time the Hero, the Buddha,
was placing in that foremost place
a Buddhist nun who wore rough robes;
he praised her, the Ultimate Man. Verse 4Walt 697 Producing not a little joy,
hearing that Buddhist nun’s virtue,
doing service for the Buddha,
according to powers and strengths, Verse 5Walt 698 bowing down to that Hero-Sage,
I aspired to attain that place.
The Sambuddha approved of that
attainment of that foremost place, Verse 6Walt 699 “In one hundred thousand aeons,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 7Walt 700Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma,
Dhamma’s legitimate offspring,
the one named Kisāgotamī
will be the Teacher’s follower.” Verse 8Walt 701 At that time being overjoyed,
as long as life, heart full of love,
I attended on the Victor,
the Guide, providing requisites. Verse 9Walt 702 Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and firm resolve,
discarding my human body,
I went to Tāvatiṁsa then. Verse 10Walt 703 In this present lucky aeon,
Brahma’s Kinsman, Greatly Famed One,
the Buddha known as Kassapa
was born, the Best of Debaters. Verse 11Walt 704 The attendant of the Great Sage
was the ruler of men back then,
the king of Kāsi, named Kiki,
in Benares, greatest city. Verse 12Walt 705 I was his fifth royal daughter,
well-known by the name of Dhammā.
Hearing the Best Victor’s Teaching,
I chose to seek ordination. Verse 13Walt 706-707 Our father did not permit it;
we stayed at home during that time,
comfortable royal maidens
doing our practice with vigor
in virginal celibacy,
for twenty times a thousand years,
fond of waiting on the Buddha,
the king’s seven joyful daughters. Verse 14-15Walt 708 Samaṇī, and Samaṇaguttā,
Bhikkhunī, Bhikkhadāyikā,
Dhammā, and also Sudhammā,
and seventh Saṅghadāyikā, Verse 16Walt 709 now Khemā, Uppalavaṇṇā,
Paṭācārā and Kuṇḍalā,
the nun Dhammadinnā and I
and Visākhā is the seventh. Verse 17Walt 710 Due to those karmas done very well,
with intention and firm resolve,
discarding my human body,
I went to Tāvatiṁsa then. Verse 18Walt 711 And now, in my final rebirth,
I’m born in a millionaire’s clan,
poor, without wealth, unprosperous,
but married into a rich clan. Verse 19Walt 712 Except my husband, the others
are pointing at me saying, “Poor!”
But after I became with child,
then I was loved by all of them. Verse 20Walt 713 When that lucky young boy of mine,
tender-bodied, comfortable,
as dear to me as my own breath,
then fell into Yama’s power, Verse 21Walt 714 grief-struck, voicing my misery,
teary-eyed, my mouth crying out,
carrying that young boy’s dead corpse,
I’m going around lamenting. Verse 22Walt 715 Then examined by one doctor,
approaching the Best Physician,
I said, “give me a medicine
to bring my son back to life, Sir.” Verse 23Walt 716 The Victor, Skilled in Crafty Speech,
said, “bring me a white mustard seed,
collected in whichever home
where people dying is not known.” Verse 24Walt 717 Then having gone to Śrāvasti,
not encountering such a house,
where could I get white mustard seed?
Thereupon I gained mindfulness. Verse 25Walt 718 Throwing away my baby’s corpse,
I went up to the World’s Leader.
Having seen me from a distance
the Sweet-Voiced One then said to me. Verse 26Walt 719 “Better than a hundred years’ life,
not seeing how things rise and fall,
is living for a single day,
seeing things rising and falling. Verse 27Walt 720 Not the condition of the village, or the town,
and also not the condition of one clan.
This is the condition of the entire world
with its gods: the impermanence of all that is.” Verse 28Walt 721 Upon hearing those two verses,
I purified my “Dhamma eye,”
then learned in the great Teaching,
I went forth into homelessness. Verse 29Walt 722 Then being one who had gone forth,
engaged in the dispensation,
after not a very long time,
I attained my arahantship. Verse 30Walt 723 I’ve mastered the superpowers
like the “divine ear” element.
I know the hearts of others too,
I have done what the Teacher taught. Verse 31Walt 724 I remember my former lives;
my “divine eye” is purified.
Throwing off all the defilements,
I am purified, I’m stainless. Verse 32Walt 725 The Teacher’s been worshipped by me;
I have done what the Buddha taught.
The heavy load has been laid down,
the ties to existence severed. Verse 33Walt 726 The reason for which I went forth,
from my home into homelessness —
I have now achieved that purpose:
destruction of all the fetters. Verse 34Walt 727 In meaning and in the Teaching,
etymology and preaching,
my knowledge is vast and flawless,
through the Great Sage’s majesty. Verse 35Walt 728 I am wearing robes which are rough,
my saṅghāṭi being made of
a shroud picked up and brought from a
cemetery along the road. Verse 36Walt 729 The Victor, pleased by my virtue,
the Guide, among the multitudes,
then placed me in the foremost place
of those who wear robes which are rough. Verse 37Walt 730 My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. Verse 38Walt 731 Being in Best Buddha's presence
was a very good thing for me.
The three knowledges are attained;
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 39Walt 732 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 40
Thus indeed Bhikkhunī Kisāgotamī spoke these verses.
The legend of Kisāgotamī Therī is finished.