“Before, good lady, when feeding “Petāni bhoti puttāni, your departed children, khādamānā tuvaṁ pure; you’d be racked with despair Tuvaṁ divā ca ratto ca, all day and all night. atīva paritappasi.

Today, brahmin lady, you have fed Sājja sabbāni khāditvā, all seven children. sataputtāni brāhmaṇī; Vāseṭṭhī, how do you explain why Vāseṭṭhi kena vaṇṇena, you’re not so filled with despair?” na bāḷhaṁ paritappasi”.

“Many hundreds of children, “Bahūni puttasatāni, hundreds of family circles, ñātisaṅghasatāni ca; both mine and yours, brahmin, Khāditāni atītaṁse, have been fed in the past. mama tuyhañca brāhmaṇa.

Having known the escape Sāhaṁ nissaraṇaṁ ñatvā, from rebirth and death jātiyā maraṇassa ca; I neither grieve nor lament, Na socāmi na rodāmi, nor do I despair.” na cāpi paritappayiṁ”.

“Wow, Vaseṭṭhī, the words you speak “Abbhutaṁ vata vāseṭṭhi, really are amazing! vācaṁ bhāsasi edisiṁ; Whose teaching did you understand Kassa tvaṁ dhammamaññāya, that you say these things?” giraṁ bhāsasi edisiṁ”.

“Brahmin, the Awakened One “Esa brāhmaṇa sambuddho, back at the city of Mithilā, nagaraṁ mithilaṁ pati; teaches the Dhamma so that living creatures Sabbadukkhappahānāya, may abandon all suffering. dhammaṁ desesi pāṇinaṁ.

After hearing the perfected one’s teaching, Tassa brahme arahato, brahmin, which is free of all attachments, dhammaṁ sutvā nirūpadhiṁ; having understood the true teaching there, Tattha viññātasaddhammā, I’ve cast aside grief for children.” puttasokaṁ byapānudiṁ”.

“I too shall go “So ahampi gamissāmi, to the city of Mithilā. nagaraṁ mithilaṁ pati; Hopefully the Buddha may release me Appeva maṁ so bhagavā, from all suffering.” sabbadukkhā pamocaye”.

The brahmin saw the Buddha, Addasa brāhmaṇo buddhaṁ, liberated, free of attachments. vippamuttaṁ nirūpadhiṁ; He taught him the Dhamma, Svassa dhammamadesesi, the sage gone beyond suffering: muni dukkhassa pāragū.

suffering, suffering’s origin, Dukkhaṁ dukkhasamuppādaṁ, suffering’s transcendence, dukkhassa ca atikkamaṁ; and the noble eightfold path Ariyaṁ caṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ, that leads to the stilling of suffering. dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

Having understood the true teaching there, Tattha viññātasaddhammo, he chose to go forth. pabbajjaṁ samarocayi; Three days later Sujāto tīhi rattīhi, Sujāta realized the three knowledges. tisso vijjā aphassayi.

“Please, charioteer, go; “Ehi sārathi gacchāhi, take back this carriage. rathaṁ niyyādayāhimaṁ; Bidding my brahmin lady good health, say: Ārogyaṁ brāhmaṇiṁ vajja, ‘The brahmin has now gone forth. ‘pabbaji dāni brāhmaṇo; After three days, Sujāto tīhi rattīhi, Sujāta realized the three knowledges.’” tisso vijjā aphassayi’”.

Then taking the carriage, Tato ca rathamādāya, along with a thousand coins, the charioteer sahassañcāpi sārathi; bade the brahmin lady good health, and said: Ārogyaṁ brāhmaṇiṁvoca, “The brahmin has now gone forth. “pabbaji dāni brāhmaṇo; After three days, Sujāto tīhi rattīhi, Sujāta realized the three knowledges.” tisso vijjā aphassayi”.

Hearing that the brahmin had the three knowledges, <j>the lady replied: “Etañcāhaṁ assarathaṁ, “I present to you this horse and carriage, sahassañcāpi sārathi; O charioteer, along with 1000 coins, Tevijjaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sutvā, and a full bowl as a gift.” puṇṇapattaṁ dadāmi te”.

“Keep the horse and carriage, lady, “Tuyheva hotvassaratho, along with the thousand coins. sahassañcāpi brāhmaṇi; I too shall go forth in his presence, Ahampi pabbajissāmi, the one of such outstanding wisdom.” varapaññassa santike”.

“Elephants, cattle, jeweled earrings, “Hatthī gavassaṁ maṇikuṇḍalañca, such opulent domestic worth: Phītañcimaṁ gahavibhavaṁ pahāya; having given it up, your father went forth, Pitā pabbajito tuyhaṁ, enjoy these riches Sundarī, Bhuñja bhogāni sundarī; you are the family heir.” Tuvaṁ dāyādikā kule”.

“Elephants, cattle, jeweled earrings, “Hatthī gavassaṁ maṇikuṇḍalañca, such delightful domestic worth: Rammaṁ cimaṁ gahavibhavaṁ pahāya; having given it up, my father went forth, Pitā pabbajito mayhaṁ, racked by grief for his son. Puttasokena aṭṭito; I too shall go forth, Ahampi pabbajissāmi, racked by grief for my brother.” Bhātusokena aṭṭitā”.

“Sundarī, may the wish you desire “So te ijjhatu saṅkappo, come true. yaṁ tvaṁ patthesi sundarī; Leftovers as gleanings, Uttiṭṭhapiṇḍo uñcho ca, and cast-off rags as robes—paṁsukūlañca cīvaraṁ; make do with these, Etāni abhisambhontī, free of defilements regarding the next life.” paraloke anāsavā”.

“Ma’am, while I am still a trainee nun, “Sikkhamānāya me ayye, my clairvoyance is clarified; dibbacakkhu visodhitaṁ; I know my past lives, Pubbenivāsaṁ jānāmi, the places I used to live. yattha me vusitaṁ pure.

Relying on a fine lady like you, Tuvaṁ nissāya kalyāṇi, a senior nun who graces the Sangha, theri saṅghassa sobhane; I’ve attained the three knowledges, Tisso vijjā anuppattā, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions. kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

Give me permission ma’am, Anujānāhi me ayye, I wish to go to Sāvatthī, icche sāvatthi gantave; where I shall roar my lion’s roar Sīhanādaṁ nadissāmi, before the best of Buddhas.” buddhaseṭṭhassa santike”.

“Sundarī, see the Teacher! “Passa sundari satthāraṁ, Snow gold in tint, <j>with sun-golden skin; hemavaṇṇaṁ harittacaṁ; tamer of the untamed, Adantānaṁ dametāraṁ, the Awakened One who fears nothing <j>from any quarter.” sambuddhamakutobhayaṁ”.

“See Sundarī coming, “Passa sundarimāyantiṁ, liberated, free of attachments. vippamuttaṁ nirūpadhiṁ; desireless, detached, Vītarāgaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, her task completed, without defilements.” katakiccamanāsavaṁ.

“Having set forth from Varanasi Bārāṇasito nikkhamma, and come to your presence, great hero, tava santikamāgatā; your disciple Sundarī Sāvikā te mahāvīra, bows at your feet. pāde vandati sundarī.

You are the Buddha, you are the Teacher, Tuvaṁ buddho tuvaṁ satthā, I am your rightful daughter, brahmin, tuyhaṁ dhītāmhi brāhmaṇa; born of your mouth. Orasā mukhato jātā, I’ve completed the task <j>and am free of defilements.” katakiccā anāsavā”.

“Then welcome, good lady, “Tassā te svāgataṁ bhadde, you’re by no means unwelcome. tato te adurāgataṁ; For this is how the tamed come Evañhi dantā āyanti, bowing at the Teacher’s feet; satthu pādāni vandikā; desireless, detached, Vītarāgā visaṁyuttā, the task completed, without defilements.” katakiccā anāsavā”.

… Sundarī therī ….