CHAPTER OF POEMS WITH EIGHT VERSES

Verses 196-203: Sīsūpacālā

VERSE 196

A bhikkhunī perfect in virtue, with sense faculties well-restrained [from grasping, through mindfulness], would attain to the state of Peace which never causes surfeit, and is refreshing.

Bhikkhunī sīlasampannā indriyesu susaṃvutā
Adhigacche padaṃ santaṃ asecanakamojavaṃ

COMMENT

Susaṃvutā: ‘well-restrained [from grasping, through mindfulness].’ See IGPT sv Saṃvara.

COMMENT

Ojavaṃ: ‘refreshing.’ PED (Ojavant): ‘possessing strengthening qualities, giving strength.’

 

VERSE 197

[Māra:]

‘The Tāvatiṃsa devas, Yāmā devas, Tusita devas, Nimmānaratī devas, and Paranimmitavasavattī devas: direct your mind to [aspire to rebirth in] that place where you lived in the past.’

Tāvatiṃsā ca yāmā ca tusitā cāpi devatā
Nimmānaratino devā ye devā vasavattino
Tattha cittaṃ paṇidhehi yattha te vusitaṃ pure

COMMENT

The conversation between Māra and Sīsūpacālā is also reported, though with some differences, in the Upacālā Sutta (S.1.133). There the conversation (with Upacālā) begins with this interchange:

Māra: ‘Where do you want to be reborn, bhikkhunī?’
Kattha nu tvaṃ bhikkhunī uppajjitukāmāti?

Upacālā: I do not want to be reborn anywhere, friend.
Na khvāhaṃ āvuso katthaci uppajjitukāmāti (S.1.133).

COMMENT

Tattha cittaṃ paṇidhehi yattha te vusitaṃ pure: ‘direct your mind to [aspire to rebirth in] that place where you lived in the past.’ The idea that one’s rebirth can be determined by one’s aspirations is the subject of the Saṅkhāruppatti Sutta:

• He thinks thus: ‘With the demise of the body at death may I be reborn in the company of Tāvatiṃsā devas.’ He fixes his mind on that idea, concentrates on it, and develops it. These aspirations and musings of his, when developed and cultivated, lead to his rebirth there.
Tassa evaṃ hoti aho vatāhaṃ kāyassa bhedā parammaraṇā tāvatiṃsānaṃ devānaṃ sahavyataṃ upapajjeyyanti. So taṃ cittaṃ dahati taṃ cittaṃ adhiṭṭhāti taṃ cittaṃ bhāveti. Tassa te saṅkhārā ca vihārā ca evaṃbhāvitā evaṃbahulīkatā tatrūpapattiyā saṃvattanti (M.3.100).

 

VERSE 198

[Sīsūpacālā:]

‘The Tāvatiṃsa devas, Yāmā devas, Tusita devas, Nimmānaratī devas, and Paranimmitavasavattī devas:

Tāvatiṃsā ca yāmā ca tusitā cāpi devatā
Nimmānaratino devā ye devā vasavattino

COMMENT

Devā vasavattino: ‘Paranimmitavasavattī devas.’ Usually called devā paranimmitavasavattino (A.3.287).

 

VERSE 199

‘Repeatedly, led on [by uninsightfulness into reality] from one state of individual existence to another in the sphere of personal identity, not transcending personal identity, they pursue birth and death.

Kālaṃ kālaṃ bhavābhavaṃ sakkāyasmiṃ purakkhatā
Avītivattā sakkāyaṃ jātimaraṇasārino

COMMENT

Bhavābhavaṃ: ‘from one state of individual existence to another.’ See IGPT sv Bhavābhava.

COMMENT

Purakkhatā: ‘led on.’ See IGPT sv Purakkhata.

COMMENT

Purakkhatā: ‘led on [by uninsightfulness into reality].’ Parenthesis supported by the following quotes:

1) Led on within the round of birth and death [by uninsightfulness into reality].
Saṃsārena purakkhato (Th.v.1174).

Commentary to Th.v.1174: Saṃsārena purakkhato saṃsārabandhanaavijjādinā purakkhato.

2) Led on by uninsightfulness into reality, [such] beings follow the round of birth and death, and go to rebirth and death.
Avijjāya purakkhatā sattā gacchanti saṃsāraṃ jātimaraṇagāmino (A.2.12).

 

VERSE 200

‘The whole world is in flames; the whole world is burning; the whole world is blazing [with the fires of attachment, hatred, undiscernment of reality, and with suffering]. The whole world is quaking [with the notion “I am,” and with attachment].

Sabbo ādīpito loko sabbo loko padīpito
Sabbo pajjalito loko sabbo loko pakampito

COMMENT

Sabbo pajjalito loko: ‘the whole world is blazing [with the fires of attachment, hatred, undiscernment of reality, and with suffering].’ Commentary: sabbopi loko rāgaggiādīhi ekādasahi āditto. Parenthesis from the following quote:

• Bhikkhus, all is burning... Burning with what? Burning with the fire of attachment, of hatred, and of undiscernment of reality; burning with birth, old age, and death; with grief, lamentation, physical pain, psychological pain, and vexation.
Sabbaṃ bhikkhave ādittaṃ... Kena ādittaṃ? Rāgagginā dosagginā mohagginā ādittaṃ. Jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi ādittan ti vadāmi. (Vin.1.34).

COMMENT

Sabbo loko pakampito: ‘The whole world is quaking [with the notion “I am,” and with attachment].’ Commentary: taṇhāya sabbakilesehi ca ito cito ca kampitatāya calitatāya pakampito. The suttas do not say that taṇhā and kilesas cause quaking. We parenthesise according to the following quotations:

1) The notion “I am” is a matter of spiritual instability,
asmī ti bhikkhave iñjitametaṃ (S.4.202).

2) The notion “I am” is a matter of mental turmoil.
Asmī ti bhikkhave phanditametaṃ (S.4.203).

3) There is trembling in one who is attached.
Nissitassa calitaṃ hotī ti (Sn.p.146).

 

VERSE 201

‘The Buddha explained the unshakeable, incomparable teaching to me that is not embraced by the common man. That is where my mind is attached.

Akampiyaṃ atuliyaṃ aputhujjanasevitaṃ
Buddho dhammamadesesi tattha me nirato mano

COMMENT

In the Upacālā Sutta Māra disappears at this point. The equivalent verse says this:

Akampitaṃ ajalitaṃ aputhujjanasevitaṃ
Agati yattha mārassa tattha me nirato mano ti
(S.1.133).

 

VERSE 202

‘Having heard his explanation, I dwelt taking delight in his teaching. The three final knowledges are attained. I have fulfilled the Buddha’s training system.

Tassāhaṃ vacanaṃ sutvā vihariṃ sāsane ratā
Tisso vijjā anuppattā kataṃ buddhassa sāsanaṃ

COMMENT

This verse is likely interpolative. See comment on verse 187.

 

VERSE 203

‘Spiritually fettering delight has been utterly dispelled. The mass of inward darkness is obliterated. Thus know, Maleficent One, you are defeated, Destroyer.’

Sabbattha vihatā nandi tamokkhandho padālito
Evaṃ jānāhi pāpima nihato tvamasi antakā ti

COMMENT

This verse is likely interpolative. See comment on verse 142.