PuṇṇikāPuṇṇātherīgāthā

“I used to be a water-carrier. Even when it was cold,“Udahārī ahaṁ sīte, I would always plunge into the water,sadā udakamotariṁ; afraid of my masters’ beatings,Ayyānaṁ daṇḍabhayabhītā, harassed by fear of abuse and anger.vācādosabhayaṭṭitā.

Brahmin, what are you afraid of,Kassa brāhmaṇa tvaṁ bhīto, that you always plunge into the water,sadā udakamotari; your limbs tremblingVedhamānehi gattehi, in the freezing cold?”sītaṁ vedayase bhusaṁ”.

“Oh, but you already know,“Jānantī vata maṁ bhoti, Madam Puṇṇikā, when you ask me:puṇṇike paripucchasi; I am doing good deeds,Karontaṁ kusalaṁ kammaṁ, to ward off the wickedness I have done.rundhantaṁ katapāpakaṁ.

Whosoever young or oldYo ca vuḍḍho daharo vā, performs a wicked deed,pāpakammaṁ pakubbati; by ablution in water they areDakābhisecanā sopi, released from their wicked deed.”pāpakammā pamuccati”.

“Who on earth told you this,“Ko nu te idamakkhāsi, one ignoramus to another:ajānantassa ajānako; ‘Actually, by ablution in water one isDakābhisecanā nāma, released from a wicked deed.’pāpakammā pamuccati.

Would not they all go to heaven, then:Saggaṁ nūna gamissanti, all the frogs and the turtles,sabbe maṇḍūkakacchapā; dragons, dolphins,Nāgā ca susumārā ca, and other water-dwellers too?ye caññe udake carā.

Butchers of sheep and pigs,Orabbhikā sūkarikā, fishermen, animal trappers,macchikā migabandhakā; bandits, executioners,Corā ca vajjhaghātā ca, and others of evil deeds:ye caññe pāpakammino; by ablution in water they too would beDakābhisecanā tepi, released from their wicked deeds.pāpakammā pamuccare.

If these rivers had carried awaySace imā nadiyo te, your bad deeds in the past,pāpaṁ pubbe kataṁ vahuṁ; they would also carry away your good deeds,Puññampimā vaheyyuṁ te, from which you’d be prevented.tena tvaṁ paribāhiro.

Brahmin, the thing that you are afraid of,Yassa brāhmaṇa tvaṁ bhīto, when you always plunge into the water,sadā udakamotari; do not do that very thing,Tameva brahme mā kāsi, don’t let the cold harm your skin.”mā te sītaṁ chaviṁ hane”.

“I have been on the wrong path,“Kummaggapaṭipannaṁ maṁ, and you’ve guided me to the noble path.ariyamaggaṁ samānayi; Madam, I give to youDakābhisecanā bhoti, this ablution cloth.”imaṁ sāṭaṁ dadāmi te”.

“Keep the cloth for yourself,“Tuyheva sāṭako hotu, I do not want it.nāhamicchāmi sāṭakaṁ; If you fear suffering,Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa, if you don’t like suffering,sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ.

then don’t do bad deedsMākāsi pāpakaṁ kammaṁ, either openly or in secret.āvi vā yadi vā raho; If you should do a bad deed,Sace ca pāpakaṁ kammaṁ, or you’re doing one now,karissasi karosi vā.

you won’t be freed from suffering,Na te dukkhā pamutyatthi, though you fly away and flee.upeccāpi palāyato; If you fear suffering,Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa, if you don’t like suffering,sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ.

go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,Upehi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ, to his teaching and to the Saṅgha.dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ; Undertake the precepts,Samādiyāhi sīlāni, that will be good for you.”taṁ te atthāya hehiti”.

“I go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,“Upemi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ, to his teaching and to the Saṅgha.dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ; I undertake the precepts,Samādiyāmi sīlāni, that will be good for me.taṁ me atthāya hehiti.

I used to be brahmin only by kin,Brahmabandhu pure āsiṁ, today I truly am a brahmin!ajjamhi saccabrāhmaṇo; Master of the three knowledges, <j>accomplished in wisdom,Tevijjo vedasampanno, I’m a scholar, a bathed initiate.”sottiyo camhi nhātako”ti.