Rohinītherīgāthā
Rohinī
“‘Samaṇā’ti bhoti supi,
“You fell asleep saying ‘ascetics’;
‘samaṇā’ti pabujjhasi;
you woke up saying ‘ascetics’;
Samaṇāneva kittesi,
you only praise ascetics, madam—
samaṇī nūna bhavissasi.
surely you’ll become an ascetic.
Vipulaṁ annañca pānañca, You provide ascetics
samaṇānaṁ paveccasi;
with abundant food and drink.
Rohinī dāni pucchāmi, I ask you now, Rohiṇī:
kena te samaṇā piyā. why do you like ascetics?
Akammakāmā alasā, They don’t like to work, they’re lazy,
paradattūpajīvino; they live on charity;
Āsaṁsukā sādukāmā, always on the lookout, greedy for sweets—
kena te samaṇā piyā”. so why do you like ascetics?”
“Cirassaṁ vata maṁ tāta, “Dad, for a long time now
samaṇānaṁ paripucchasi; you’ve questioned me about ascetics.
Tesaṁ te kittayissāmi, I shall extol for you
paññāsīlaparakkamaṁ. their wisdom, ethics, and vigor.
Kammakāmā analasā, They like to work, they’re not lazy;
kammaseṭṭhassa kārakā; by giving up greed and hate,
Rāgaṁ dosaṁ pajahanti, they do the best kind of work—
tena me samaṇā piyā. that’s why I like ascetics.
Tīṇi pāpassa mūlāni, As for the three roots of evil,
dhunanti sucikārino; by pure deeds they shake them off.
Sabbaṁ pāpaṁ pahīnesaṁ, They have given up all wickedness—
tena me samaṇā piyā. that’s why I like ascetics.
Kāyakammaṁ suci nesaṁ, Their bodily actions are pure;
vacīkammañca tādisaṁ; their actions of speech likewise;
Manokammaṁ suci nesaṁ, their actions of mind are pure—
tena me samaṇā piyā. that’s why I like ascetics.
Vimalā saṅkhamuttāva, Immaculate as a conch-shell,
suddhā santarabāhirā; they’re pure inside and out,
Puṇṇā sukkāna dhammānaṁ,
full of bright qualities—
tena me samaṇā piyā. that’s why I like ascetics.
Bahussutā dhammadharā, They’re learned and memorize the teaching,
ariyā dhammajīvino; noble, living righteously,
Atthaṁ dhammañca desenti, teaching the text and its meaning:
tena me samaṇā piyā. that’s why I like ascetics.
Bahussutā dhammadharā, They’re learned and memorize the teaching,
ariyā dhammajīvino; noble, living righteously,
Ekaggacittā satimanto, unified in mind, and mindful—
tena me samaṇā piyā. that’s why I like ascetics.
Dūraṅgamā satimanto, Traveling afar, and mindful,
mantabhāṇī anuddhatā; thoughtful in counsel, not restless,
Dukkhassantaṁ pajānanti, they understand the end of suffering—
tena me samaṇā piyā. that’s why I like ascetics.
Yasmā gāmā pakkamanti, When they leave a village,
na vilokenti kiñcanaṁ; they don’t look back with longing,
Anapekkhāva gacchanti, but proceed without concern—
tena me samaṇā piyā. that’s why I like ascetics.
Na te saṁ koṭṭhe openti, They hoard no goods in storerooms,
na kumbhiṁ na khaḷopiyaṁ; nor in pots or baskets.
Pariniṭṭhitamesānā, They seek food prepared by others—
tena me samaṇā piyā. that’s why I like ascetics.
Na te hiraññaṁ gaṇhanti, They don’t receive gold coins,
na suvaṇṇaṁ na rūpiyaṁ; or gold or silver;
Paccuppannena yāpenti, feeding on whatever comes that day,
tena me samaṇā piyā. that’s why I like ascetics.
Nānākulā pabbajitā, They have gone forth from different families,
nānājanapadehi ca; even different countries,
Aññamaññaṁ piyāyanti,
and yet they all love one another—
tena me samaṇā piyā”. that’s why I like ascetics.”
“Atthāya vata no bhoti, “Dear Rohinī, it was truly for our benefit
kule jātāsi rohinī; that you were born in our family!
Saddhā buddhe ca dhamme ca, You have faith and such keen respect
saṅghe ca tibbagāravā. for the Buddha, his teaching, and the Sangha.
Tuvaṁ hetaṁ pajānāsi, For you understand this
puññakkhettaṁ anuttaraṁ; supreme field of merit.
Amhampi ete samaṇā, These ascetics will henceforth
paṭigaṇhanti dakkhiṇaṁ. receive our religious donation, too.
Patiṭṭhito hettha yañño, For there we will place our sacrifice,
vipulo no bhavissati”; and it shall be abundant.”
“Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa, “If you fear suffering,
sace te dukkhamappiyaṁ. if you don’t like suffering,
Upehi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ, go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,
dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ; to his teaching and to the Sangha.
Samādiyāhi sīlāni, Undertake the precepts,
taṁ te atthāya hehiti”. that will be good for you.”
“Upemi saraṇaṁ buddhaṁ, “I go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,
dhammaṁ saṅghañca tādinaṁ; to his teaching and to the Sangha.
Samādiyāmi sīlāni, I undertake the precepts,
taṁ me atthāya hehiti. that will be good for me.
Brahmabandhu pure āsiṁ, I used to be brahmin by kin,
so idānimhi brāhmaṇo; now I genuinely am a brahmin.
Tevijjo sottiyo camhi, Master of the three knowledges, I’m a scholar,
vedagū camhi nhātako”. a knowledge master, a bathed initiate.”
