Therigatha2.1

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Adapted from Archaic Translation By Mrs. Rhys Davids 1909

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

2.1 Abhirupa-Nanda, Daughter of the Sakiyas, Kapilavatthu

Born in the time of the Buddha Vipassi(earlier Buddha), in his native town of Bandhumati, as the daughter of a wealthy elite, she became a pious lay-adherent, and at the Master's death she made an offering to the shrine of his ashes of a golden umbrella [1] surrounded with jewels. Reborn for this in various heavens, she was, in this Buddha-period, reborn at Kapilavatthu as the daughter of the chief wife of Khemaka, the Sakiyan, and named Nanda. But because of her excessive beauty, charm, and loveliness, she was known as Nanda the Fair.

Now, on the day when she was to choose among her suitors, Charabhuta, her young Sakiyan relative, died. Then her parents made her leave the world against her will. But she, even after she had entered the Order, was infatuated with her own beauty, and, fearing the Master's(Buddha's) rebuke, avoided his presence. Now the Bhagwa(Lord Buddha) knew that she was ripe for knowledge, and directed the Great Pajapati Gotami (Foster mother & aunt of Buddha as well as head of nuns order) to let all the Bhikkhunis come to him for instruction. Nanda sent another in her place. And the Bhagwa(Lord Buddha) said, 'Let no one come by proxy.' So she was compelled to come. And the Bhagwa(Lord Buddha), by his magical power, conjured up a beautiful woman, and showed her becoming aged and fading, causing anguish to arise in Nanda. And he addressed her in these words:

Look, Nanda, the foul compound, diseased, Impure it is! Compel your mind to understand And concentrate with the one-pointed mind. (19) Understand the Animittan[2] Cast out the harmful bias of pride. Has the mind mastered vain imaginings, Then may you go your ways, calm and serene. (20) And when he had finished speaking, she attained Arahantship(enlightenment equal to Buddha). Repeating to herself the verses, she made them the announcement of her Anna (Enlightened state).

[1] Or tee, surmounting the cupola. Vipassi was the first of the seven Buddhas of the Pitakas.

[2] Animittan, ideals not depending on what is impermanent, or on what makes for sorrow, or on the presence of a persisting soul-entity