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← Therīgāthā

Thirty Nuns

Thig 5.11 · Tiṁsamattātherīgāthā

Earth, stones, reeds and clear water meeting along a quiet riverbank.

“Taking a pestle, young men pound grain. Providing for partners and children, young men acquire wealth.

Do the Buddha’s bidding, you won’t regret it. Having quickly washed your feet, sit in a discreet place to meditate. Devoted to serenity of heart, do the Buddha’s bidding.”

After hearing her words, the instructions of Paṭācārā, they washed their feet and retired to a discreet place. Devoted to serenity of heart, they did the Buddha’s bidding.

In the first watch of the night, they recollected their past lives. In the middle watch of the night, they purified their clairvoyance. In the last watch of the night, they shattered the mass of darkness.

They rose and paid homage at her feet: “We have done your bidding; we shall abide honoring you, as the Thirty gods honor Indra, undefeated in battle. Masters of the three knowledges, we are free of defilements.”

That is how thirty senior nuns declared their enlightenment in the presence of Paṭācārā.

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About this edition

Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato and Jessica Walton · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

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.