Thig 5.8 - Verses of the Elder Soṇā
Translated by Bhikkhuni Soma
Source: https://suttacentral.net/thig5.8/en/soma
License: CC0-1.0

Verses of the Elder Bhikkhunīs
Chapter of the Fives
Verses of the Elder Soṇā
“I gave birth to ten children
from this same body.
Then when I was old and feeble,
I approached a bhikkhunī.
She taught me the Dhamma:
the khandhas, elements, and sense domains.
After I listened to her Dhamma,
I cut off my hair and went forth.
From training with her,
my divine eye was purified.
I know my past lives,
where I dwelt previously.
I cultivate objectless meditation
with a well-collected and one-pointed mind.
I was immediately liberated,
quenched because of non-grasping.
The five khandhas are fully understood,
they remain with roots destroyed.
What does it matter that I am decrepit?
There is now no coming back to any state of being.”
The Elder Soṇā
