1. Sumedhā (THI-AP1)

Praise Him, the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Fully Complete Buddha

Now listen to the legends of the Therīs:

When Koṇāgamana, Blessed One,
was in his new dwelling, monastic ashram,
we who were three female friends, then
donated a monastery.

Ten times and then a hundred times,
and then a hundred hundred times,
we were reborn among the gods;
who could tell the human rebirths?

Among gods we had vast power;
who could tell the human power?
Chief queen of a seven-gemmer,
I was the gem of a woman.

Here with wholesome karma heaped up,
we’re people from successful clans:
Dhanañjānī and Khemā too,
along with me, the women three.

Making that hermitage well-made,
with every part of it adorned,
delighted we donated it
to the Buddha-led Assembly.

In whichever place I’m reborn,
in accordance with that karma,
among the gods and humans too,
I attain the foremost station.

In this present lucky aeon
Brahma’s Kinsman, Greatly Famed One,
the Buddha known as Kassapa
was born, the Best of Debaters.

The attendant of the Great Sage
was the ruler of men back then,
the king of Kāsi, named Kiki,
in Benares, greatest city.

That ruler had seven daughters,
royal maidens raised in comfort.
Fond of waiting on the Buddha,
they practiced the religious life.

Being the ally of those girls,
steadfast in the moral precepts,
giving gifts very carefully,
I practiced vows while in the house.

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

Fallen thence, I went to Yāma,
and then I went to Tusitā,
and then to Nimmānarati,
and then Vāsavatti City.

In whichever place I’m reborn,
steadfast in doing good karma,
I was fixed in the chief queen’s place
of the kings in all those heavens.

Fallen then into humanness,
I was fixed in the chief queen’s place
of kings who turned the wheel of law
and kings commanding large regions.

Having experienced happiness
among gods and also humans,
being comfortable everywhere,
I traveled on through several births.

That gift’s the reason, that’s the cause,
root, patience for the dispensation,
the first identification,
nirvana of this Dhamma-lover.

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!

Thus indeed Venerable Bhikkhunī Sumedhā spoke these verses.

The legend of Sumedhā 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.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.