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# Therigatha

## Chapter XIII -- The Nineteens

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XIII.1 -- Ambapali {vv. 252-270}
[Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]

> Black was my hair
> -- the color of bees --
> & curled at the tips;
> with age, it looked like coarse hemp.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Fragrant, like a perfumed basket
> filled with flowers: my coiffure.
> With age it smelled musty,
> like animal fur.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Thick & lush, like a well-tended grove,
> made splendid, the tips elaborate
> with comb & pin.
> With age, it grew thin
> & bare here & there.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Adorned with gold & delicate pins,
> it was splendid, ornamented with braids.
> Now, with age,
> that head has gone bald.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Curved, as if well-drawn by an artist,
> my brows were once splendid.
> With age, they droop down in folds.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Radiant, brilliant like jewels,
> my eyes: elongated, black -- deep black.
> With age, they're no longer splendid.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Like a delicate peak, my nose
> was splendid in the prime of my youth.
> With age, it's like a long pepper.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Like bracelets -- well-fashioned, well-finished --
> my ears were once splendid.
> With age, they droop down in folds.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Like plaintain buds in their color,
> my teeth were once splendid.
> With age, they're broken & yellowed.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Like that of a cuckoo in the dense jungle,
> flitting through deep forest thickets:
> sweet was the tone of my voice.
> With age, it cracks here & there.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Smooth -- like a conch shell well-polished --
> my neck was once splendid.
> With age, it's broken down, bent.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Like rounded door-bars -- both of them --
> my arms were once splendid.
> With age, they're like dried up patali trees.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Adorned with gold & delicate rings,
> my hands were once splendid.
> With age, they're like onions & tubers.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Swelling, round, firm, & high,
> both my breasts were once splendid.
> In the drought of old age, they dangle
> like empty old water bags.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Like a sheet of gold, well-burnished,
> my body was splendid.
> Now it's covered with very fine wrinkles.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Smooth in their lines, like an elephant's trunk,
> both my thighs were once splendid.
> With age, they're like knotted bamboo.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Adorned with gold & delicate anklets,
> my calves were once splendid.
> With age, they're like sesame sticks.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> As if they were stuffed with soft cotton,
> both my feet were once splendid.
> With age, they're shriveled & cracked.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

> Such was this physical heap,
> now: decrepit, the home of pains, many pains.
> A house with its plaster all fallen off.
> The truth of the Truth-speaker's words
> doesn't change.

XIII.2 -- Rohini {vv. 271-290}
[Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]

[Rohini's father:]

> You go to sleep saying,
> "Contemplatives."
> You wake up,
> "Contemplatives."
> You praise only
> contemplatives.
> No doubt you will be
> a contemplative.

> Abundant food & drink
> you give to contemplatives.
> Now, Rohini, I ask you:
> Why do you hold
> contemplatives dear?

> They don't like to work,
> they're lazy,
> living off what's given by others,
> full of hankerings,
> wanting delicious things:
> Why do you hold
> contemplatives dear?

[Rohini:]

> For a long time, father,
> you've quizzed me
> about contemplatives.
> I'll praise to you
> their discernment,
> virtue,
> endeavor.

> They do like to work,
> they're not lazy.
> They do the best work:
> They abandon
> passion & anger.
> That's why I hold
> contemplatives dear.

> They rid themselves
> of the three evil roots,[1]
> doing pure actions.
> All their evil's
> abandoned.
> That's why I hold
> contemplatives dear.

> Clean their bodily action,
> so is their verbal action.
> Clean their mental action:
> That's why I hold
> contemplatives dear.

> Spotless, like mother of pearl,
> pure within & without,
> perfect in clear qualities:
> That's why I hold
> contemplatives dear.

> Learned, maintaining the Dhamma,
> noble, living the Dhamma,
> they teach the goal
> & the Dhamma:
> That's why I hold
> contemplatives dear.

> Learned, maintaining the Dhamma,
> noble, living the Dhamma,
> with unified minds
> & mindful:
> That's why I hold
> contemplatives dear.

> Traveling far, mindful,
> giving counsel unruffled,
> they discern the end
> of suffering:
> That's why I hold
> contemplatives dear.

> When they leave any village
> they don't turn to look back
> at anything.
> How free from concern
> they go!
> That's why I hold
> contemplatives dear.

> They don't store in a granary,
> pot,
> or basket.
> They hunt [only]
> for what's already cooked:
> That's why I hold
> contemplatives dear.

> They take neither silver,
> nor gold,
> nor money.
> They live off whatever is present:
> That's why I hold
> contemplatives dear.

> Having gone forth
> from different families
> & from different countries,
> still they hold
> one another dear:
> That's why I hold
> contemplatives dear.

[Rohini's father:]

> Rohini, truly for our well-being
> were you born in our family.
> You have conviction
> in the Buddha & Dhamma,
> and strong respect
> for the Sangha.

> You truly discern
> this field of merit
> unexcelled.
> These contemplatives will receive
> our offering, too,
> for here we'll set up
> our abundant sacrifice.

[Rohini:]

> If you're afraid of pain,
> if you dislike pain,
> go to the Buddha for refuge,
> go to the Dhamma & Sangha.
> Take on the precepts:
> That will lead
> to your well-being.

[Rohini's father:]

> I go to the Buddha for refuge;
> I go to the Dhamma & Sangha.
> I take on the precepts:
> That will lead
> to my well-being.

> Before, I was a kinsman to Brahma;
> now, truly a brahman.
> I'm a three-knowledge man & safe,
> consummate in knowledge,
> washed clean.

> Note:
> 1. The three unskillful roots are greed, aversion, and delusion. [Go back]

> See also: SN VII.17; Sn I.4.

Revised: Fri 12 April 2002