THERIGATHA (SONGS OF THE SISTERS)

MUTTA

I am well-released, properly released by my release by means of the three crooked things, by the mortar, pestle, and my crooked husband. I am released from birth and death; that which leads to renewed existence has been rooted out.

SOMA

(They say) that place, hard to gain, which is to be attained by the seers, cannot be attained by a woman with two-finger-intelligence.

(I say) what (harm) could the woman’s state do to us, when the mind is well-concentrated, when knowledge exists for someone rightly having insight into the doctrine?

Everywhere enjoyment of pleasure is defeated; the mass of darkness (of ignorance) is torn asunder; thus know, evil one (death), you are defeated.

VIMALA, the former prostitute

Intoxicated by my complexion, my figure, beauty, and fame, haughty because of my youth, I despised other women.

Having decorated this body, very variegated, deceiving fools, I stood at the brothel door, like a hunter having spread out a snare showing my ornamentation. Many a secret (place) was revealed. I did various sorts of conjuring, laughing at many people.

Today I, having wandered for alms with shaven head, clad in the ochre robe, am seated at the foot of a tree, having obtained non-reasoning.

All ties, those which are divine and those which are human, have been cut out. Having annihilated all the asavas (desires), I have become cool, quenched.

KISAGOTAMI

The state of women has been said to be painful by the charioteer of men-who-are-to-be-tamed [the Buddha]; even the state of being a co-wife is painful; some, having given birth once even cut their throats; (some) tender ones take poisons; gone into the midst of people-killers [hell] both suffer misfortunes.

Going along, about to bring forth, I saw my husband dead; having given birth on the path, (I had) not yet arrived at my own house.

Two sons dead and a husband dead upon the path for miserable (me); mother and father and brother were burning upon one pyre.

O miserable woman, with family annihilated, immeasurable pain has been suffered by you; and your tears have been shed for many thousands of births.

Then I saw the flesh of my sons eaten in the midst of the cemetery; with my family destroyed, despised by all, with husband dead, I attained the undying.

The noble eight-fold way leading to the undying has been developed by me; quenching has been realized; I have looked at the doctrine as a mirror.

I have my dart cut out, my burden laid down; that which was to be done has been done by me. The Theri Kisagotami , with mind completely released, has said this.