I used to be in a sorry state. As a childless widow, bereft of friends or relatives, I got neither food nor clothes.
I took a bowl and a staff and went begging from family to family. For seven years I wandered, burned by heat and cold.
Then I saw a nun receiving food and drink. Approaching her, I said: “Send me forth to homelessness.”
Out of sympathy for me, Paṭācārā gave me the going forth. Then, having advised me, she urged me on to the ultimate goal.
After hearing her words, I did her bidding. The lady’s advice was not in vain: master of the three knowledges, I am free of defilements.
Candā
Thig 5.12 · Candātherīgāthā
Connections
Collection & context
- TherīgāthāThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
Books
- Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology
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.