thig5.12:0.1Verses of the Senior Nuns 5.12
thig5.12:0.2The Book of the Fives
thig5.12:0.3Candā
thig5.12:1.1I used to be in a sorry state.
thig5.12:1.2As a childless widow,
thig5.12:1.3bereft of friends or relatives,
thig5.12:1.4I got neither food nor clothes.
thig5.12:2.1I took a bowl and a staff
thig5.12:2.2and went begging from family to family.
thig5.12:2.3For seven years I wandered,
thig5.12:2.4burned by heat and cold.
thig5.12:3.1Then I saw a nun
thig5.12:3.2receiving food and drink.
thig5.12:3.3Approaching her, I said:
thig5.12:3.4“Send me forth to homelessness.”
thig5.12:4.1Out of sympathy for me,
thig5.12:4.2Paṭācārā gave me the going forth.
thig5.12:4.3Then, having advised me,
thig5.12:4.4she urged me on to the ultimate goal.
thig5.12:5.1After hearing her words,
thig5.12:5.2I did her bidding.
thig5.12:5.3The lady’s advice was not in vain:
thig5.12:5.4master of the three knowledges, I am free of defilements.