1.1 A Certain Unknown Therī

“Sleep with ease, Elder, wrapped in a rag. Your passion has been appeased thus, like a dry vegetable in a pot.”

Thus a certain unknown Elder Bhikkhunī spoke this verse.

1.1 Aññatarātherīgāthā

‘‘Sukhaṃ supāhi therike, katvā coḷena pārutā; Upasanto hi te rāgo, sukkhaḍākaṃ va kumbhiya’’nti.

Itthaṃ sudaṃ aññatarā therī apaññātā bhikkhunī gāthaṃ abhāsitthāti.

2. Muttā Therī

“Mutta, free yourself from bondage, like the moon from Rāhu’s grasp. And with a liberated mind, eat alms free of debt.”

Thus the Blessed One often exhorts the trainee Muttā with this verse.

2. Muttātherīgāthā

‘‘Mutte muccassu yogehi, cando rāhuggahā iva; Vippamuttena cittena, anaṇā bhuñja piṇḍaka’’nti.

Itthaṃ sudaṃ bhagavā muttaṃ sikkhamānaṃ imāya gāthāya abhiṇhaṃ ovadatīti.

3. Puṇṇā Therī

“Puṇṇā, grow full of good qualities, like the moon on the fifteenth day.
Full of wisdom, destroy this mass of darkness.”

Thus Puṇṇā the Elder spoke this verse.

3. Puṇṇātherīgāthā

‘‘Puṇṇe pūrassu dhammehi, cando pannaraseriva;

Paripuṇṇāya paññāya, tamokhandhaṃ [tamokkhandhaṃ (sī. syā.)] padālayā’’ti.

4. Tissā Therī

“Tissā, train yourself with discipline, do not let bonds tie you down. All bonds unbound, walk in the world free from influences.”

4. Tissātherīgāthā

‘‘Tisse sikkhassu sikkhāya, mā taṃ yogā upaccaguṃ; Sabbayogavisaṃyuttā, cara loke anāsavā’’ti.

5. Another Tissā Therī

“Tissā, bind yourself to the Dhamma, waste no time. Those who waste time sorrow, when they arrive in hell.” 

5. Aññatarātissātherīgāthā

‘‘Tisse yuñjassu dhammehi, khaṇo taṃ mā upaccagā; Khaṇātītā hi socanti, nirayamhi samappitā’’ti.

6. Dhīrā Therī

“Dhīrā, touch cessation, the joyful pacification of perception. Attain Nirvana, the utmost safety from bondage.”

6.Dhīrātherīgāthā

‘‘Dhīre nirodhaṃ phusehi [phussehi (sī.)], saññāvūpasamaṃ sukhaṃ; Ārādhayāhi nibbānaṃ, yogakkhemamanuttara’’nti [yogakkhemaṃ anuttaranti (sī. syā.)].

7. Vīrā Therī

“Vīrā, with the qualities of a hero, a bhikkhunī with well-developed spiritual powers. She carries her last body, having conquered Māra and his army.”

7. Vīrātherīgāthā

‘‘Vīrā vīrehi [dhīrā dhīrehi (ka.)] dhammehi, bhikkhunī bhāvitindriyā;Dhārehi antimaṃ dehaṃ, jetvā māraṃ savāhini’’nti [savāhananti (ka.)].

8. Mittā Therī

“Now that you have gone forth out of faith, Mittā, appreciate your spiritual companions. Cultivate wholesome qualities for the attainment of safety from bondage.”

8. Mittātherīgāthā

‘‘Saddhāya pabbajitvāna, mitte mittaratā bhava; Bhāvehi kusale dhamme, yogakkhemassa pattiyā’’ti.

9. Bhadrā Therī

“Now that you have gone forth out of faith, Bhadrā, be devoted to goodness. Cultivate wholesome qualities, the utmost safety from bondage.”

9. Bhadrātherīgāthā

‘‘Saddhāya pabbajitvāna, bhadre bhadraratā bhava; Bhāvehi kusale dhamme, yogakkhemamanuttara’’nti.

10. Upasamā Therī

“Upasamā, pass over the flood, the sphere of death so difficult to cross. Carry your last body, having conquered Māra and his army.” 

10. Upasamātherīgāthā

‘‘Upasame tare oghaṃ, maccudheyyaṃ suduttaraṃ; Dhārehi antimaṃ dehaṃ, jetvā māraṃ savāhana’’nti.

11. Muttā Therī

“I am well released and fully free, freed from the three deceits, of the mortar and the pestle, and the deceitful husband. I am free from birth and death, I have uprooted craving for any state of existence.”

11. Muttātherīgāthā

‘‘Sumuttā sādhumuttāmhi, tīhi khujjehi muttiyā; Udukkhalena musalena, patinā khujjakena ca; Muttāmhi jātimaraṇā, bhavanetti samūhatā’’ti.

12. Dhammadinnā Therī

“When one’s ferverous nature has been laid down, when the mind has been expanded and is not constricted by sensual pleasures— this is called going against the stream.”

12. Dhammadinnātherīgāthā

‘‘Chandajātā avasāyī, manasā ca phuṭā [phuṭṭhā (syā.), phuṭhā (sī. aṭṭha.)] siyā; Kāmesu appaṭibaddhacittā [appaṭibandhacittā (ka.)], uddhaṃsotāti vuccatī’’ti [uddhaṃsotā vimuccatīti (sī. pī.)].

13. Visākhā Therī

“Do what the Buddha taught and you will have no regrets. Quickly wash the feet and sit down on one side.”

13. Visākhātherīgāthā

‘‘Karotha buddhasāsanaṃ, yaṃ katvā nānutappati; Khippaṃ pādāni dhovitvā, ekamante nisīdathā’’ti.

14.Sumanā Therī

“Having seen the elements as suffering, do not return to birth.
Having destroyed *the* fervor for existence, you will walk in peace.”

14.Sumanātherīgāthā

‘‘Dhātuyo dukkhato disvā, mā jātiṃ punarāgami; Bhave chandaṃ virājetvā, upasantā carissasī’’ti.

15. Uttarā Therī

​​”I was restrained in body, speech, and mind. Having pulled out craving by the roots, I have become cool and quenched.”

15. Uttarātherīgāthā

‘‘Kāyena saṃvutā āsiṃ, vācāya uda cetasā; Samūlaṃ taṇhamabbuyha, sītibhūtāmhi nibbutā’’ti.

16. Sumanā Therī, Gone Forth in Old Age

“Sleep comfortably, old one, wrapped in a rag. Your passion has been appeased thus, it has become cool and quenched.”

16. Vuḍḍhapabbajitasumanātherīgāthā

‘‘Sukhaṃ tvaṃ vuḍḍhike sehi, katvā coḷena pārūtā; Upasanto hi te rāgo, sītibhūtāsi nibbutā’’ti.

17. Dhammā Therī

“As I was going for alms, leaning on a stick,
all my limbs trembled, and there I fell on the ground.
As I saw the danger in the body, in that moment, my mind was liberated.”

17. Dhammātherīgāthā

‘‘Piṇḍapātaṃ caritvāna, daṇḍamolubbha dubbalā; Vedhamānehi gattehi, tattheva nipatiṃ chamā; Disvā ādīnavaṃ kāye, atha cittaṃ vimucci me’’ti.

18. Saṅghā Therī

“I left behind the house, and went forth. I left behind child, cattle, and all that is dear. I left behind passion and aversion, and I left behind ignorance — by means of dispassion. Having pulled out craving by the roots, I am quenched and at peace.”

18. Saṅghātherīgāthā

‘‘Hitvā ghare pabbajitvā [pabbajitā (sī. aṭṭha.)], hitvā puttaṃ pasuṃ piyaṃ; Hitvā rāgañca dosañca, avijjañca virājiya; Samūlaṃ taṇhamabbuyha, upasantāmhi nibbutā’’ti.