Struck down with grief for my son, deranged, out of my mind, nude, my hair flying, I wandered here and there.
I lived on rubbish heaps, in cemeteries and highways. For three years I wandered, stricken by hunger and thirst.
Then I saw the Holy One back at the city of Mithilā. Tamer of the untamed, the Awakened One fears nothing from any quarter.
Regaining my mind, I paid homage and sat down. Out of compassion Gotama taught me the Dhamma.
After hearing his teaching, I went forth to homelessness. Applying myself to the Teacher’s words, I realized the state of grace.
All sorrows are cut off, given up, they end here. I’ve fully understood the basis from which grief comes to be.
Vāseṭṭhī
Thig 6.2 · Vāseṭṭhītherīgāthā
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.