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13. Modakadāyikā

Thi-ap 13

A small rain pool reflecting pale clouds on an open grassy plain.

Walt 159 In the city, Bandhumatī,
I was a water-jug slave-girl.
After receiving my wages,
I went with a water-fetcher. Verse 1

Walt 160 Having seen a monk on the road,
attentive with a well-calmed heart,
happy, with pleasure in my heart,
I gave the monk three sweetmeats then. Verse 2

Walt 161 Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and firm resolve,
for one more than ninety aeons
I went not to a place of grief. Verse 3

Walt 162 Giving him material goods,
I then experienced all of that.
Having given those three sweetmeats
I attained the unshaking state. Verse 4

Walt 163 My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. Verse 5

Walt 164 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! Verse 6

Walt 165 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 7

Thus indeed Bhikkhunī Modakadāyikā spoke these verses.

The legend of Modakadāyikā Therī is finished.

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Translation by Jonathan S. Walters · SuttaCentral · CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US

Noncommercial reuse with attribution and the same license. Original publication and digitization credits are preserved below.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters.

Whitman College, 2017

Legends of the Buddhist Saints (Apadāna) is released under the Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike license.

This is the first-ever complete translation of Apadāna into a Western language.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.