thig.5.6 Therigatha

Mittakali

Going forth through conviction
from home into homelessness,
I wandered this place & that,
greedy for gain & offerings.

Missing out on the foremost goal,
I pursued a lowly one.
Under the sway of defilements
I surrendered the goal
of the contemplative life.

Then, sitting in my dwelling,
I suddenly came to my senses:
I'm following a miserable path.
I'm under the sway of
craving.

Next to nothing, my life —
crushed
by aging & illness.
Before the body breaks apart,
I have no time
for heedlessness.

After watching, as it actually was,
the rising & falling of aggregates,
I stood up with mind released,
the Awakened One's bidding
done.

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Ayya Kathrin Vimalañāṇī

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Mittākāḷī

Having gone forth out of faith
from the lay life to homelessness,
I wandered here and there,
jealous of possessions and honors.
Neglecting the highest goal,
I pursued the lowest.
Under the sway of corruptions,
I never knew the goal of the ascetic life.
I was struck with a sense of urgency
as I was sitting in my hut:
“I’m walking the wrong path,
under the sway of craving.
My life is short,
trampled by old age and sickness.
Before this body breaks apart,
there is no time for me to be careless.”
I examined in line with reality
the rise and fall of the aggregates.
I stood up with mind liberated,
having fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.