thig5.11:0.1Verses of the Senior Nuns 5.11
thig5.11:0.2The Book of the Fives
thig5.11:0.3Thirty Nuns
thig5.11:1.1“Taking a pestle,
thig5.11:1.2young men pound grain.
thig5.11:1.3Providing for partners and children,
thig5.11:1.4young men acquire wealth.
thig5.11:2.1Do the Buddha’s bidding,
thig5.11:2.2you won’t regret it.
thig5.11:2.3Having quickly washed your feet,
thig5.11:2.4sit in a discreet place to meditate.
thig5.11:2.5Devoted to serenity of heart,
thig5.11:2.6do the Buddha’s bidding.”
thig5.11:3.1After hearing her words,
thig5.11:3.2the instructions of Paṭācārā,
thig5.11:3.3they washed their feet
thig5.11:3.4and retired to a discreet place.
thig5.11:3.5Devoted to serenity of heart,
thig5.11:3.6they did the Buddha’s bidding.
thig5.11:4.1In the first watch of the night,
thig5.11:4.2they recollected their past lives.
thig5.11:4.3In the middle watch of the night,
thig5.11:4.4they purified their clairvoyance.
thig5.11:4.5In the last watch of the night,
thig5.11:4.6they shattered the mass of darkness.
thig5.11:5.1They rose and paid homage at her feet:
thig5.11:5.2“We have done your bidding;
thig5.11:5.3we shall abide honoring you,
thig5.11:5.4as the Thirty gods honor Indra,
thig5.11:5.5undefeated in battle.
thig5.11:5.6Masters of the three knowledges, we are free of defilements.”
thig5.11:6.1That is how thirty senior nuns declared their enlightenment in the presence of Paṭācārā.