[37. Aḍḍhakāsikā1]

In this [present] lucky aeon,
Brahma’s Kinsman, Greatly Famed One,
[the Buddha] known as Kassapa2
was born, the Best of Debaters. (1) [1271]

At that time, having been ordained
in that Buddha’s dispensation,
I’m restrained in the five senses,
and in monastic discipline.3 (2) [1272]

Moderate4 in eating, I was
committed to being watchful,5
dwelling fixed on practice. One time
[however,] with a filthy mind,
I slandered an undefiled6 nun
[by saying,] “[She’s] a prostitute.”
Because of that evil karma,
I roasted in a [fearful] hell. (3-4) [1273-1274]

Due to the rest of that karma,
I was born in a clan of whores,
repeatedly committing sins;
and [then] in [my] final rebirth, (5) [1275]

I’m born among the Kāsians,7
in a millionaire’s clan. Due to8
[former] celibacy I was
gorgeous,9 like a nymph among gods. (6) [1276]

Seeing my extreme beauty, in
Rajgir, best city, they made [me]
enter prostitution due to10
[my] formerly having slandered. (7) [1277]

After hearing the good Teaching
which was preached by the Best Buddha,
endowed with former impressions,
I went forth into homelessness. (8) [1278]

Seeking11 ordination12 having
gone into the Victor’s presence,
hearing13 that rogues were on14 the road,
I got ordained by messenger.15 (9) [1279]

All [my] karma has been burnt up,
merit and likewise evil too;
birth and rebirth16 crossed beyond,
and prostitution’s thrown away. (10) [1280]

I’ve mastered the superpowers
[like] the “divine ear” element.
I’m also a master, Great Sage,
of the knowledge in others’ hearts. (11) [1281]

I remember [my] former lives;
[my] “divine eye” is purified.
All the defilements are destroyed;
[I] will not be reborn again. (12) [1282]

In meaning and in the Teaching,
etymology and preaching,
[this] knowledge of mine was produced
in your presence, O Great Hero. (13) [1283]

My defilements are [now] burnt up;
all [new] existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. (14) [1284]

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! (15) [1285]

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (16) [1286]

Thus indeed the bhikkhunī Aḍḍhakāsikā spoke these verses.

The legend of Aḍḍhakāsikā Therī17 is finished

  1. “Half a Benares Thousand [Whore],” “She [Whose Daytime Price] is Half a Benares Thousand,” as historical nun, remembered as the precedent for the giving of ordination by messenger. See DPPN I:50. Here the ordination is specifically called upasampadā, “higher ordination”↩

  2. BJTS reads “Named Kassapa according to his Lineage (gottena)”↩

  3. patimokkhamhi, lit “in [read “through”?] the fortnightly recitation/227 rules↩

  4. reading mataññutnī (lit., “one who knows the limit”) ccha asane (“in eating”), with BJTS for PTS mataññū nīccha-āsane (”moderate on a high seat” ?)↩

  5. reading jāgariye pi with BJTS for PTS jāgariyesu↩

  6. vigatāsavaŋ↩

  7. i.e., the people of Benares and the countryside surrounding it↩

  8. lit., “as the fruit of” “as the result of”↩

  9. rūpasampadā (lit., “endowed with beauty”)↩

  10. lit., “as the fruit of” “as the result of”↩

  11. tadā…°atthāya, lit., “then…for the sake of”↩

  12. PTS reads tadā ‘pasampadatthāya, with incorrect sandhi; BJTS reads, correctly, tatopasampadatthāya, cf. PTS alt. (also correct) tad’ upa°↩

  13. reading sutvā with BJTS for PTS disvā (“seeing”). Neither edition indicates variance in its reading of the verb.↩

  14. ṭhite, lit., “were standing on” “remained on”↩

  15. lit., “a messenger [gave me] ordination”↩

  16. or “transmigration,” °saŋsārā↩

  17. the BJTS reading for PTS bhikkhunī Aḍḍhakāsikā↩