16. Sālamālikā (THI-AP16)

On Candabhāgā River’s bank,
I was a kinnarī back then.
I saw the Stainless One, Buddha,
the Self-Become, Unconquered One.

Happy, with pleasure in my heart,
awe-struck, with hands pressed together,
taking a sal-flower garland,
I worshipped the Self-Become One.

Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and firm resolve,
discarding my human body,
I went to Tāvatiṁsa then.

I was fixed in the chief queen’s place
of thirty-six kings of the gods.
Whatever my mind wishes for,
comes into being as desired.

I was fixed in the chief queen’s place
of ten kings who were wheel-turners.
Being a good-minded woman,
I transmigrated through lifetimes.

My wholesomeness is apparent;
I went forth into homelessness.
Today I’m worthy of pūjā
in the Buddha’s dispensation.

Today, with my mind purified,
the evil-minded one is gone.
All my defilements are destroyed;
now there will be no more rebirth.

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

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!

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught!

In the ninety-four aeons since
I worshipped the Buddha back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of a sal-garland.

My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
All my defilements are destroyed;
now there will be no more rebirth.

Thus indeed Bhikkhunī Sālamālikā spoke these verses.

The legend of Sālamālikā Therī is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters.

Whitman College, 2017

Legends of the Buddhist Saints (Apadāna) is released under the Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike license.

This is the first-ever complete translation of Apadāna into a Western language.

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