The Victor, Padumuttara,
was a Master of Everything.
That Leader arose in the world
one hundred thousand aeons hence.I then lived in Haṁsavatī,
born in an undistinguished clan.
I worked for others, governed by
morality, intelligent.Sujāta, foremost follower
of Padumuttara Buddha,
departing the monastery,
was going begging for alms-food.I was then a water-bearer,
going carrying a pitcher.
Seeing him I gave him some soup,
feeling well-pleased by my own hands.Having accepted that from me,
he sat down there and enjoyed it.
After leading him to that house,
I gave some solid food to him.Then my employer, being pleased,
made me his own daughter-in-law.
Going with my mother-in-law,
I worshipped him, the Sambuddha.Then he extolled a Buddhist nun
who was a preacher of Dhamma.
He placed her in that foremost place;
hearing that I was delighted.Then, inviting the Well-Gone-One,
World’s Leader with the Assembly,
giving them a large almsgiving,
I aspired to attain that place.Then the Well-Gone-One said to me,
with the sweet sound of a cymbal:
“O one who’s fond of serving me,
O servant of the Assembly,
O hearer of the good Teaching,
proper one, mind set on virtue,
O lucky one, be overjoyed:
you will attain your wish’s fruit.In one hundred thousand aeons,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world.Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma,
Dhamma’s legitimate offspring,
the one whose name’s Dhammadinnā
will be the Teacher’s follower.”At that time being overjoyed,
as long as life, heart full of love,
I attended on the Victor,
the Guide, providing requisites.Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and firm resolve,
discarding my human body,
I went to Tāvatiṁsa then.In this present lucky aeon
Brahma’s Kinsman, Greatly Famed One,
the Buddha known as Kassapa
was born, the Best of Debaters.The attendant of the Great Sage
was the ruler of men back then,
the king of Kāsi, named Kiki,
in Benares, greatest city.I was his sixth royal daughter,
well-known by the name Sudhammā.
Hearing the Best Victor’s Teaching,
I chose to seek ordination.Our father did not permit it;
we stayed at home during that time,
comfortable royal maidens
doing our practice with vigor
in virginal celibacy,
for twenty times a thousand years,
fond of waiting on the Buddha,
the king’s seven joyful daughters.Samaṇī, and Samaṇaguttā,
Bhikkhunī, Bhikkhadāyikā,
Dhammā, and also Sudhammā,
and seventh Saṅghadāyikā,now Khemā Uppalavaṇṇā,
Paṭācārā and Kuṇḍalā,
Kisāgotamī, also I,
and Visākhā is the seventh.Due to those karmas done very well,
with intention and firm resolve,
discarding my human body
I went to Tāvatiṁsa then.And now, in my final rebirth,
I’m born in a millionaire’s clan,
rich, endowed with every pleasure,
in Rajgir, excellent city.When I’d become a young woman,
possessing the virtue of beauty,
married to another good clan,
I dwelt endowed with happiness.Having approached the World’s Refuge,
having heard his Dhamma-preaching,
through the Buddha, my husband gained
the fruit of a non-returner.Then I, having been permitted,
went forth into homelessness too.
After not a very long time,
I attained my arahantship.Then a layman, approaching me,
asked me a series of questions
which were very deep and subtle;
I explained all of them to him.The Victor, pleased by my virtue,
then placed me in that foremost place,
Buddhist nun, preacher of Dhamma: “I see no other one who is
as wise as is Dhammadinnā;
so should you consider her, monks.”
“I am indeed a wise woman,
who was pitied by the Leader.The Teacher’s been worshipped by me;
I have done what the Buddha taught.
The heavy load has been laid down,
the ties to existence severed.The reason for which I went forth,
from my home into homelessness —
I have now achieved that purpose:
destruction of all the fetters.I’ve mastered the superpowers
like the “divine ear” element.
I know the hearts of others too,
I have done what the Teacher taught.I remember my former lives;
my “divine eye” is purified.
Throwing off all the defilements,
I am purified, I’m stainless.My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint.Being in Best Buddha's presence
was a very good thing for me.
The three knowledges are attained;
I have done what the Buddha taught!The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught!
Thus indeed Bhikkhunī Dhammadinnā spoke these verses.
The legend of Dhammadinnā Therī is finished.