[50] 12.
"You who stand here, O goddess (devatā), with surpassing beauty,
swaying your hands and feet, you dance while the music is finely played.
As you dance, from every limb and part of you
divine sounds stream forth, lovely to hear, delighting the mind;
as you dance, from every limb and part of you
divine fragrances waft, pure-scented, delighting the mind.
As you turn about with your body, the ornaments braided in your tresses
give out a resounding that is heard like the fivefold instrumental music;
your crest-wreaths, tossed by the breeze, set trembling by the wind,
give out a resounding that is heard like the fivefold instrumental music.
And that garland upon your head, pure-scented, delighting the mind,
sends its fragrance to every quarter, like the mañjūsaka tree.
You breathe in that pure fragrance; you behold a form that is more than human.
O goddess, now that you are asked, declare: of what deed (kamma) is this the fruit?"
[The devatā replied:]
"Formerly I was a slave-woman of a brahmin at Gayā,
of scanty merit (puñña), ill-fortuned; they knew me as 'Rajjumālā.'
Hard pressed by abuse, by blows, and by threats,
I took up the water-pot, went out, and came as the water-carrier.
Setting the pot down off the path, I went into a forest thicket:
'Right here shall I die — what use indeed is life to me?'
Having made a strong noose and slung it over a tree,
I then looked round about the quarters: 'Who now may be dwelling in this wood?'
There I saw the Fully Awakened One (Sambuddha), the sage, benefactor of all the world,
seated at the root of a tree, meditating, with no fear from any quarter.
Then there arose in me a stirring (saṃvega), unprecedented, making the hair stand on end:
'Who now is this dwelling in the wood — is it a human being, or a deity?'
Gracious, inspiring confidence, come from the wood to the woodless —
seeing him, my mind was filled with trust: 'This is no ordinary being;
his faculties (indriya) guarded, delighting in meditation (jhāna), his mind not straying outward,
a benefactor of all the world — this must be the Buddha!
Like a lion that keeps to its den — inspiring fear and dread, hard to approach —
rarely is this one to be found for the seeing, like the flower of the udumbara.'
That Tathāgata, addressing me with gentle words,
said to me, 'Rajjumālā!' — 'Go to the Tathāgata for refuge.'
When I had heard that speech of his — faultless, full of meaning, pure,
smooth, gentle, and charming, dispelling all sorrow —
then, knowing my mind to be made ready, confident, pure in heart,
the Tathāgata, benefactor of all the world, instructed me:
'This is suffering (dukkha),' he said to me; 'this is the arising of suffering;
and this is the cessation (nirodha) of suffering — the straight road plunging into the Deathless (amata).'
Abiding in the admonition of the Compassionate One, the Skilful One,
I attained the Deathless, the peace — Nibbāna, the imperishable state.
Steadfast in love, unwavering in vision (dassana),
with faith (saddhā) that has taken root, I am a daughter of the Buddha, born of his breast.
And now I delight, I sport, I rejoice, with no fear from any quarter;
I wear a divine garland; I drink the draught sweet as honey.
Sixty thousand instruments perform for my awakening:
Āḷamba, Gaggara, Bhīma, Sādhuvādī, and Saṃsaya,
Pokkhara and Suphassa; and the women —
Vīṇā and Mokkhā, Nandā and Sunandā,
Soṇadinnā and Sucimhitā,
Alambusā and Missakesī, and Puṇḍarīkā the exceedingly fierce,
Eṇipassā and Supassā, Subhaddā and Mudukāvadī —
these and others yet more excellent among the nymphs (accharā), for my wakening.
Those goddesses, drawing near me in due time, address me:
'Come, let us dance, let us sing! Come, let us delight you!'
This is not for those who have made no merit; for those alone who have made merit is this —
the sorrowless, delightful Nandana, the great grove of the Thirty (Tidasa) gods.
For those who have made no merit there is no happiness, either here or in the world beyond;
but for those who have made merit there is happiness, both here and in the world beyond.
By those who desire companionship with them much that is wholesome (kusala) must be done;
for those who have made merit rejoice in heaven (sagga), endowed with riches.
Truly for the welfare of many do the Tathāgatas arise,
worthy of the offerings of human beings, mines of the fields of merit (puññakkhetta),
in whom having rendered service, donors rejoice in heaven."
The Rajjumālā Mansion (Rajjumālāvimāna), the Twelfth.
Summary (uddāna):
Mañjiṭṭhā, Pabhassarā, Nāgā, Alomā, Kañjikadāyikā,
Vihāra, Caturitthi and Ambā, Pītā, Ucchu, Vandana, and Rajjumālā —
by these this chapter is proclaimed.
The Fourth Chapter in the Mansions of Women (Itthivimāna) is concluded.
The Fifth Chapter: the Great Chariot Chapter (Mahārathavagga).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.