[26. Soṇā1]
The Victor, Padumuttara,
was a Master of Everything.
[That] Leader arose in the world
one hundred thousand aeons hence. (1) [858]
Born then in a millionaire’s clan,
I was happy, honored,2 held dear.
Approaching the Excellent Sage,3
I heard [his] words, [sweet as] honey. (2) [859]
I was overjoyed having heard
the Victor praise the nun foremost
of those who make a strong effort,
doing service for the Teacher. (3) [860]
Then worshipping4 the Sambuddha,
I aspired to [attain] that place.
The Great Hero approved [of that:]
“Your aspiration will succeed. (4) [861]
In one hundred thousand aeons,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world. (5) [862]
Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma,
Dhamma’s legitimate offspring,
the one known by the name Soṇā
will be the Teacher’s follower.” (6) [863]
At that time being overjoyed,
as long as life, heart [full of] love,
I attended on the Victor,
the Guide, providing requisites. (7) [864]
Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and [firm] resolve,
discarding [my] human body,
I went to Tāvatiṃsa [then]. (8) [865]
And now, in [my] final rebirth,
I’m born in a millionaire’s clan,
rich, prosperous, very wealthy,
in Śrāvasti, best of cities. (9) [866]
When I’d become a young woman,5
having gone to a husband’s clan,
I was the mother of6 ten sons,
very handsome and distinguished. (10) [867]
All of them were comfortable,
delightful in the people’s eyes,
brilliant even to enemies,
needless to say, they’re loved by7 me. (11) [868]
Then, without my desiring it,8
he who was my husband went forth
in the Buddha’s9 dispensation,
surrounded10 by [those] sons11 [of mine]. (12) [869]
[And] then, alone, I reflected:
“Enough with [this] life [here] for me,12
growing old and in misery,
bereft of13 [my] husband [and] sons. (13) [870]
I will also go to the place
where [my] husband has [now] arrived.”14
After reflecting in that way,
I went forth into homelessness. (14) [871]
And then the nuns left me alone
in the retreat for Buddhist nuns,
going off with the instruction:
“heat up the water [while we’re gone].” (15) [872]
Then bringing water I poured [it]
into a small pot15[used for that].
After placing [it on the hearth,]
seated, I then kindled my heart. (16) [873]
Seeing the body’s16 diseased-ness,
essence-less-ness, impermanence,
throwing off all the defilements,
I achieved [my] arahantship. (17) [874]
Then coming [back, those] Buddhist nuns,
asked [me] about the hot water.
Through concentration on the fire,17
I quickly made the flame ignite. (18) [875]
Astonished, the [nuns] made that fact
audible to the Best Victor.
Hearing [it,] the Lord, overjoyed,
spoke this verse [about me just then:] (19) [876]
“A life lived [only] for one day
undertaken with strong effort,
is better than a century
lived inert, lacking energy.” (20) [877]
The Great Hero was [greatly] pleased
by my exemplary conduct.
That Great Sage said that I’m foremost
of those who make a strong effort. (21) [878]
My defilements are [now] burnt up;
all [new] existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. (22) [879]
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! (23) [880]
The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (24) [881]
Thus indeed Bhikkhunī Soṇā spoke these verses.
The legend of Soṇā Therī is finished.
“Dog,” or a kind of tree, Bodhi Tree of Paduma and Nārada Buddhas, according to BV. An historical nun, remembered as foremost among those who make energetic effort.↩
reaidng pūjitā with BJTS (and PTS alt.) for PTS sajjitā, which however approximates the same meaning.↩
munivaraŋ↩
or “saluting”: abhivādiya↩
or “when I had attained puberty:” yadā ccha yobbanupetā↩
lit., “I gave birth to”↩
lit., “of”↩
mayhaŋ akāmāya, lit., “with my disliking [of it]↩
devadevassa, lit., “of the God of Gods” or “the Gods’ God’s”↩
or “honored,” “being placed in front of”↩
dasaputta°, lit., “by the ten sons”↩
or “I’m fed up with this existence:” jīvitenâlam atthu me, lit., “Let it be enough with life for me”↩
jīnāya, BJTS reads cchattāya (with much the same meaning)↩
reading sampatto with BJTS for PTS pasuto (“pursuing”)↩
kumbhiyā cchulle, lit., “into a small kumbhi-pot”↩
khandhe, lit., “the [five] heaps” or aggregates that make up personal being, the constituent elements of the “I” trapped in saṃsāra.↩
lit., “on the fire element”↩