To Abhayā’s Mother From Her Daughter

My dear mother, examine this body,*Authorship is unclear in these verses. The first verse is addressed to the mother. The commentary says it was by her son Abhaya, but I think it is more likely by her daughter Abhayā who features in the next poem.up from the soles of the feet,and down from the tips of the hairs,so impure and foul-smelling.

“Uddhaṁ pādatalā amma, adho ve kesamatthakā; Paccavekkhassumaṁ kāyaṁ, asuciṁ pūtigandhikaṁ.

My dear mother, examine this body,*Authorship is unclear in these verses. The first verse is addressed to the mother. The commentary says it was by her son Abhaya, but I think it is more likely by her daughter Abhayā who features in the next poem.“Uddhaṁ pādatalā amma, up from the soles of the feet,adho ve kesamatthakā; and down from the tips of the hairs,Paccavekkhassumaṁ kāyaṁ, so impure and foul-smelling.asuciṁ pūtigandhikaṁ.

Meditating like this,*The feminine declension of the last words show that this verse is spoken by a woman. The commentary says it was by the mother, who has quoted her son’s words and adds her own. I read both verses as spoken by the daughter.all my lust is eradicated.The fever of passion is cut off,I’m cooled and quenched.*It is only from the feminine declension of the last words that we can be sure it is the daughter Abhayā speaking.

Evaṁ viharamānāya, sabbo rāgo samūhato; Pariḷāho samucchinno, sītibhūtāmhi nibbutā”ti.

Meditating like this,*The feminine declension of the last words show that this verse is spoken by a woman. The commentary says it was by the mother, who has quoted her son’s words and adds her own. I read both verses as spoken by the daughter.Evaṁ viharamānāya, all my lust is eradicated.sabbo rāgo samūhato; The fever of passion is cut off,Pariḷāho samucchinno, I’m cooled and quenched.*It is only from the feminine declension of the last words that we can be sure it is the daughter Abhayā speaking.sītibhūtāmhi nibbutā”ti.