Therīgāthā — Versos das Monjas Anciãs — 13.2 — Rohinī

1“You fell asleep saying ‘ascetics’;
you woke up saying ‘ascetics’;
you only praise ascetics, madam—
surely you’ll become an ascetic.

2You provide ascetics
with abundant food and drink.
I ask you now, Rohiṇī:
why do you like ascetics?

3They don’t like to work, they’re lazy,
they live on charity;
always on the lookout, greedy for sweets—
so why do you like ascetics?”

4“Dad, for a long time now
you’ve questioned me about ascetics.
I shall extol for you
their wisdom, ethics, and vigor.

5They like to work, they’re not lazy;
by giving up greed and hate,
they do the best kind of work—
that’s why I like ascetics.

6As for the three roots of evil,
by pure deeds they shake them off.
They have given up all wickedness—
that’s why I like ascetics.

7Their bodily actions are pure;
their actions of speech likewise;
their actions of mind are pure—
that’s why I like ascetics.

8Immaculate as a conch-shell,
they’re pure inside and out,
full of bright qualities—
that’s why I like ascetics.

9They’re learned and memorize the teaching,
noble, living righteously,
teaching the text and its meaning:
that’s why I like ascetics.

10They’re learned and memorize the teaching,
noble, living righteously,
unified in mind, and mindful—
that’s why I like ascetics.

11Traveling afar, and mindful,
thoughtful in counsel, not restless,
they understand the end of suffering—
that’s why I like ascetics.

12When they leave a village,
they don’t look back with longing,
but proceed without concern—
that’s why I like ascetics.

13They hoard no goods in storerooms,
nor in pots or baskets.
They seek food prepared by others—
that’s why I like ascetics.

14They don’t receive gold coins,
or gold or silver;
feeding on whatever comes that day,
that’s why I like ascetics.

15They have gone forth from different families,
even different countries,
and yet they all love one another—
that’s why I like ascetics.”

16“Dear Rohinī, it was truly for our benefit
that you were born in our family!
You have faith and such keen respect
for the Buddha, his teaching, and the Saṅgha.

17For you understand this
supreme field of merit.
These ascetics will henceforth
receive our religious donation, too.

18For there we will place our sacrifice,
and it shall be abundant.”
“If you fear suffering,
if you don’t like suffering,

19go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,
to his teaching and to the Saṅgha.
Undertake the precepts,
that will be good for you.”

20“I go for refuge to the Buddha, the unaffected,
to his teaching and to the Saṅgha.
I undertake the precepts,
that will be good for me.

21I used to be brahmin only by kin,
now I genuinely am a brahmin.
Master of the three knowledges, I’m a scholar,
a knowledge master, a bathed initiate.”