Therīgāthā 59

Verses of the Senior Nuns 7.2

The Book of the Sevens

Cālā

1 “As a nun with developed faculties,

having established mindfulness,

I penetrated that peaceful state,

the blissful stilling of conditions.”

2 “In whose name did you shave your head?

You look like an ascetic,

but you don’t approve any creed.

Why do you wander as if lost?”

3 “Followers of other creeds

rely on their views.

They don’t understand the Dhamma,

for they’re no experts in the Dhamma.

4 But there is one born in the Sakyan clan,

the unrivaled Buddha;

he taught me the Dhamma

for going beyond views.

5 Suffering, suffering’s origin,

suffering’s transcendence,

and the noble eightfold path

that leads to the stilling of suffering.

6 After hearing his words,

I happily did his bidding.

I’ve attained the three knowledges

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

7 Relishing is banished in every respect,

and the mass of darkness is shattered.

So know this, Wicked One:

you’re beaten, terminator!”