33. Uppaladāyikā (THI-AP33)

In Aruṇavatī City,
lived the kṣatriyan Aruṇa.
I was then the wife of that king;
in that place I was practicing.

Gone off alone and sitting down,
I then reflected on it like this:
“there’s no good karma done by me
to take along on my journey.

Am I not then going to hell,
burning red hot, very cruel,
with a gruesome form, and bitter?
For me there’s no doubt about that.”

Having thought it through in that way.
bringing pleasure to my own mind,
after going up to the king,
I spoke these words entreating him:

“O king, we who are called “women”
always follow behind our men.
Give me a single Buddhist monk;
I shall feed him, O kṣatriyan.”

At that time the king gave to me
a monk with senses well-controlled.
After picking up his alms bowl,
I filled it with exquisite food.

Filling it with exquisite food,
having removed a fine garment
which was valued at a thousand,
I gave it with a happy mind.

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 one thousand kings of the gods.
I was fixed in the chief queen’s place
of one thousand wheel-turning kings.

There was also much local rule,
innumerable by counting,
and there was much other, varied
fruit of that karma thereafter.

I’m always blue lotus-colored,
very beautiful, good-looking,
a woman endowed in all parts,
of noble birth and radiant.

When my last rebirth was attained
I was born in the Śākyan clan,
leader of one thousand women
attached to Suddhodana’s son.

Becoming wearied in the home,
I went forth into homelessness.
Before the seventh night occurred
I attained the Four Noble Truths.

I cannot count the gifts received,
monastic robes and alms to eat,
requisites as well as lodgings:
that’s the fruit of giving alms food.

O Sage, recall the good karma,
which formerly was done by me;
much of mine has been sacrificed
for the sake of you, Great Hero.

In the thirty-one aeons since
I gave that alms-giving back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of giving alms food.

I transmigrate in just two states:
as a goddess or a woman.
I do not know other rebirths;
that’s the fruit of giving alms food.

When human I‘m born in high clans,
which have big halls, very wealthy;
I do not witness lesser clans:
that’s the fruit of giving alms food.

Transmigrating life after life,
incited by my wholesome roots,
I do not see what does not please:
fruit of deeds done with happy mind.

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

I remember my former lives;
my “divine eye” is purified.
All the defilements are destroyed;
I will not be reborn again.

In meaning and in the Teaching,
etymology and preaching,
this knowledge of mine was produced
in your presence, O Great Hero.

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 the bhikkhunī Uppaladāyikā spoke these verses face to face with the Blessed One.

The legend of the bhikkhunī Uppaladāyikā 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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