KhemāKhemātherīgāthā

“You’re so young and beautiful!“Daharā tvaṁ rūpavatī, I too am young, just a youth.ahampi daharo yuvā; Come, Khemā, let us enjoyPañcaṅgikena turiyena, the music of a five-piece band.”ehi kheme ramāmase”.

“This body is rotting,“Iminā pūtikāyena, ailing and frail,āturena pabhaṅgunā; I’m horrified and repelled by it,Aṭṭiyāmi harāyāmi, and I’ve eradicated sensual craving.kāmataṇhā samūhatā.

Sensual pleasures are like swords and spears;Sattisūlūpamā kāmā, the aggregates are their chopping block.khandhāsaṁ adhikuṭṭanā; What you call erotic delightYaṁ ‘tvaṁ kāmaratiṁ’ brūsi, is now no delight for me.‘aratī’ dāni sā mama.

Relishing is banished in every respect,Sabbattha vihatā nandī, and the mass of darkness is shattered.tamokhandho padālito; So know this, Wicked One:Evaṁ jānāhi pāpima, you’re beaten, terminator!”nihato tvamasi antaka.

“Worshiping the stars,Nakkhattāni namassantā, serving the sacred flame in a grove;aggiṁ paricaraṁ vane; failing to grasp the true nature of things,Yathābhuccamajānantā, foolish me, I thought this was purity.bālā suddhimamaññatha.

But now I worship the Awakened One,Ahañca kho namassantī, supreme among men.sambuddhaṁ purisuttamaṁ; Doing the Teacher’s bidding,Pamuttā sabbadukkhehi, I am released from all suffering.”satthusāsanakārikā”ti.