Verses of the Senior Monks 5.5

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Vaḍḍha

Oh so well was the goad
shown to me by my mother,
on hearing whose words,
advised by my mother,
energetic and resolute,
I realized supreme awakening.

I’m perfected, worthy of offerings,
master of the three knowledges, seer of freedom from death.
I’ve conquered the army of Namuci,
and live without defilements.

Those defilements that were found in me,
internally and externally,
are all cut off without remainder,
and will not arise again.

My self-assured sister
said this to me:
‘Now neither you nor I
have any snarls.’

Suffering is at an end;
this bag of bones is my last
in the transmigration through births and deaths;
now there’ll be no more future lives.”