[466]
[Puṇṇikā:]
"A water-carrier (udakahārī) am I: even in the cold
I always went down into the water,
terrified by fear of my masters' rod,
harassed by fear of their angry words.
Of whom are you afraid, brahmin,
that you always go down into the water?
With trembling limbs
you feel the bitter cold!"
[The brahmin:]
"Though you know it well, good lady Puṇṇikā,
you question one
who is doing a wholesome deed (kusala kamma),
warding off an evil deed.
Whoever, whether old or young,
commits an evil deed,
even he, by ablution in water,
is released from the evil deed."
[Puṇṇikā:]
"Who, pray, told you this —
the ignorant to one who does not know —
that by ablution in water
one is, indeed, released from an evil deed?
Then surely they will all go to heaven (sagga):
the frogs and the turtles,
the nāgas and the crocodiles,
and whatever else moves about in the water!
Butchers of sheep, butchers of pigs,
fishermen, trappers of deer,
thieves and executioners,
and whatever others are doers of evil —
even they, by ablution in water,
would be released from their evil deeds!
If these rivers could carry away
the evil you have done before,
they would carry away your merit (puñña) too,
and thereby you would be left an outsider [bereft of both].
That from fear of which, brahmin,
you always go down into the water —
that very thing do not do, brahmin;
do not let the cold hurt your skin."
[The brahmin:]
"You have led me, who had entered upon a wrong road,
back to the noble path (ariyamagga):
good lady, I give to you
this water-ablution cloth (sāṭaka)."
[Puṇṇikā:]
"Let the cloth be yours alone:
I do not want the cloth.
If you are afraid of suffering (dukkha),
if suffering is displeasing to you,
then do no evil deed,
whether openly or in secret.
But if you shall do an evil deed,
or are doing one now,
there is no release from suffering for you,
even though you spring up and flee.
If you are afraid of suffering,
if suffering is displeasing to you,
go for refuge to the Buddha,
to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of the steadfast (tādin);
undertake the precepts (sīla) —
that will be for your release."
[The brahmin:]
"A kinsman of Brahmā (brahmabandhu) was I before;
today I am a brahmin in truth:
possessed of the threefold knowledge (tevijja), endowed with knowledge (veda),
I am one truly learned (sotthiya), washed clean (nhātaka)."
Puṇṇikā.
The Chapter of the Sixteens (Soḷasakanipāta) is concluded.
_______________________
The Therīgāthā: the Chapter of the Twenties (Vīsatinipāta)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.