Four or five times“Catukkhattuṁ pañcakkhattuṁ,I left my dwelling.vihārā upanikkhamiṁ;I had failed to find peace of heart,Aladdhā cetaso santiṁ,or any control over my mind.citte avasavattinī.
I approached a nunSā bhikkhuniṁ upagacchiṁ,in whom I had faith.yā me saddhāyikā ahu;She taught me the Dhamma:Sā me dhammamadesesi,the aggregates, sense fields, and elements.khandhāyatanadhātuyo.
When I had heard her teaching,Tassā dhammaṁ suṇitvāna,in accordance with her instructions,Yathā maṁ anusāsi sā;I sat cross-legged for seven days without moving,Sattāhaṁ ekapallaṅkena,given over to rapture and bliss.Nisīdiṁ pītisukhasamappitā;On the eighth day I stretched out my feet,Aṭṭhamiyā pāde pasāresiṁ,having shattered the mass of darkness.Tamokhandhaṁ padāliyā”ti.
Similar passages elsewhere
Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.
Thig 5.1 An Unnamed Nun (2nd)0.67near 0.1Verses of the Senior Nuns 5.1 The Book of the Fives An Unnamed Nun (2nd) In the twenty-five years since I went forth, I have not found peace of mind, even as long as a finger-snap. Failing to find peace of heart, festeri…
Thig 6.8 Vijayā0.64near 0.1Verses of the Senior Nuns 6.8 The Book of the Sixes Vijayā Four or five times I left my dwelling; I had failed to find peace of heart, or any control over my mind. I approached a nun and politely questioned her. She taug…
Thig 5.8 Soṇā0.58near 0.1Verses of the Senior Nuns 5.8 The Book of the Fives Soṇā I gave birth to ten sons in this form, this bag of bones. Then, when feeble and old, I approached a nun. She taught me the Dhamma: the aggregates, sense fields, an…