CandāCandātherīgāthā

I used to be in a sorry state.“Duggatāhaṁ pure āsiṁ, As a childless widow,vidhavā ca aputtikā; bereft of friends or relatives,Vinā mittehi ñātīhi, I got neither food nor clothes.bhattacoḷassa nādhigaṁ.

I took a bowl and a staffPattaṁ daṇḍañca gaṇhitvā, and went begging from family to family.bhikkhamānā kulā kulaṁ; For seven years I wandered,Sītuṇhena ca ḍayhantī, burned by heat and cold.satta vassāni cārihaṁ.

Then I saw a nunBhikkhuniṁ puna disvāna, receiving food and drink.annapānassa lābhiniṁ; Approaching her, I said:Upasaṅkamma avocaṁ, “Send me forth to homelessness.”‘pabbajjaṁ anagāriyaṁ’.

Out of sympathy for me,Sā ca maṁ anukampāya, Paṭācārā gave me the going forth.pabbājesi paṭācārā; Then, having advised me,Tato maṁ ovaditvāna, she urged me on to the ultimate goal.paramatthe niyojayi.

After hearing her words,Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, I did her bidding.akāsiṁ anusāsaniṁ; The lady’s advice was not in vain:Amogho ayyāyovādo, master of the three knowledges, <j>I am free of defilements.tevijjāmhi anāsavā”ti.