[Rohini's father:]
You go to sleep saying,
"Contemplatives."
You wake up,
"Contemplatives."
You praise only
contemplatives.
No doubt you will be
a contemplative.Abundant food & drink
you give to contemplatives.
Now, Rohini, I ask you:
Why do you hold
contemplatives dear?They don't like to work,
they're lazy,
living off what's given by others,
full of hankerings,
wanting delicious things:
Why do you hold
contemplatives dear?[Rohini:]
For a long time, father,
you've quizzed me
about contemplatives.
I'll praise to you
their discernment,
virtue,
endeavor.They do like to work,
they're not lazy.
They do the best work:
They abandon
passion & anger.
That's why I hold
contemplatives dear.They rid themselves
of the three evil roots,
doing pure actions.
All their evil's
abandoned.
That's why I hold
contemplatives dear.Clean their bodily action,
so is their verbal action.
Clean their mental action:
That's why I hold
contemplatives dear.Spotless, like mother of pearl,
pure within & without,
perfect in clear qualities:
That's why I hold
contemplatives dear.Learned, maintaining the Dhamma,
noble, living the Dhamma,
they teach the goal
& the Dhamma:
That's why I hold
contemplatives dear.Learned, maintaining the Dhamma,
noble, living the Dhamma,
with unified minds
& mindful:
That's why I hold
contemplatives dear.Traveling far, mindful,
giving counsel unruffled,
they discern the end
of suffering:
That's why I hold
contemplatives dear.When they leave any village
they don't turn to look back
at anything.
How free from concern
they go!
That's why I hold
contemplatives dear.They don't store in a granary,
pot,
or basket.
They hunt [only]
for what's already cooked:
That's why I hold
contemplatives dear.They take neither silver,
nor gold,
nor money.
They live off whatever is present:
That's why I hold
contemplatives dear.Having gone forth
from different families
& from different countries,
still they hold
one another dear:
That's why I hold
contemplatives dear.[Rohini's father:]
Rohini, truly for our well-being
were you born in our family.
You have conviction
in the Buddha & Dhamma,
and strong respect
for the Sangha.You truly discern
this field of merit
unexcelled.
These contemplatives will receive
our offering, too,for here we'll set up
our abundant sacrifice.
[Rohini:]
If you're afraid of pain,
if you dislike pain,go to the Buddha for refuge,
go to the Dhamma & Sangha.
Take on the precepts:
That will lead
to your well-being.[Rohini's father:]
I go to the Buddha for refuge;
I go to the Dhamma & Sangha.
I take on the precepts:
That will lead
to my well-being.Before, I was a kinsman to Brahma;
now, truly a brahman.
I'm a three-knowledge man & safe,
consummate in knowledge,
washed clean.
thig.13.2 Therigatha
Rohini
- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- Editor: Ayya Kathrin Vimalañāṇī
Rohinī
“You fell asleep saying ‘ascetics’;you woke up saying ‘ascetics’;
you only praise ascetics, madam—
surely you’ll become an ascetic.
You provide ascetics
with abundant food and drink.
I ask you now, Rohiṇī:
why do you like ascetics?
They 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?”
“Dad, for a long time now
you’ve questioned me about ascetics.
I shall extol for you
their wisdom, ethics, and vigor.
They 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.
As 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.
Their bodily actions are pure;
their actions of speech likewise;
their actions of mind are pure—
that’s why I like ascetics.
Immaculate as a conch-shell,
they’re pure inside and out,
full of bright qualities—
that’s why I like ascetics.
They’re learned and memorize the teaching,
noble, living righteously,
teaching the text and its meaning:
that’s why I like ascetics.
They’re learned and memorize the teaching,
noble, living righteously,
unified in mind, and mindful—
that’s why I like ascetics.
Traveling afar, and mindful,
thoughtful in counsel, and stable,
they understand the end of suffering—
that’s why I like ascetics.
When they leave a village,
they don’t look back with longing,
but proceed without concern—
that’s why I like ascetics.
They hoard no goods in storerooms,
nor in pots or baskets.
They seek food prepared by others—
that’s why I like ascetics.
They don’t receive silver,
or gold whether coined or uncoined;
feeding on whatever comes that day,
that’s why I like ascetics.
They have gone forth from different families,
even different countries,
and yet they all love one another—
that’s why I like ascetics.”
“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 Sangha.
For you understand this
supreme field of merit.
These ascetics will henceforth
receive our religious donation, too.
For there we will place our sacrifice,
and it shall be abundant.”
“If you fear suffering,
if you don’t like suffering,
go for refuge to the Buddha, the poised,
to his teaching and to the Sangha.
Undertake the precepts,
that will be good for you.”
“I go for refuge to the Buddha, the poised,
to his teaching and to the Sangha.
I undertake the precepts,
that will be good for me.
In the past I was related to Brahmā,
now I genuinely am a brahmin.
Possessing the three knowledges, I’m a genuine scholar,
I’m a knowledge master, a bathed initiate.”