[166] The Victor named Padumuttara, gone to the far shore of all dhammas,
the Leader, arose one hundred thousand aeons (kappa) from now.
Then I was born in the family of a wealthy merchant, happy, adorned, and dear;
approaching that excellent Sage, I heard his sweet speech.
The Victor was praising a bhikkhunī as foremost of those with aroused energy (vīriya);
hearing that, I became joyful and performed an act of service for the Teacher.
Having saluted the Fully Awakened One, I then aspired to that station;
and the Great Hero rejoiced in it: "May your aspiration succeed!
One hundred thousand aeons from now, arising in the Okkāka lineage,
there will be a Teacher in the world, Gotama by name.
An heir in his dhammas, a true-born offspring fashioned by the Dhamma,
Soṇā by name, she will be a disciple of the Teacher."
Hearing that, I became joyful; and then, for as long as I lived,
with a mind (citta) of loving-kindness I attended upon the Victor, the Guide, with requisites.
By that deed well done, and by my intention and aspirations,
on abandoning the human body I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
And now, in my final existence, I was born in a merchant's family —
rich, prosperous, of great wealth — in Sāvatthī, the excellent city.
And when I came of age and had gone to my husband's family,
I gave birth to ten sons, of exceedingly fine appearance.
And they all lived in comfort, captivating people's eyes and minds;
they were pleasing even to enemies — how much more, then, were they dear to me!
Then, against my wish, that husband of mine, with the ten sons at his head,
went forth in the dispensation of the God of Gods.
Then, all alone, I considered: "Enough now with life for me —
bereft of husband and sons, aged and wretched.
I too shall go to that place where my husband has arrived."
Having thought thus, I went forth into homelessness.
Then the bhikkhunīs, leaving me alone in the nuns' residence,
went away with the instruction: "Heat the water."
Then, having fetched water and poured it into a pot,
I set it on the hearth and sat down; and then I concentrated my mind.
Having seen the aggregates (khandha) as impermanent, as suffering (dukkha), and as non-self,
I exhausted all the taints (āsava) and attained Arahantship.
Then the bhikkhunīs, having returned, asked about the hot water;
resolving upon the fire element (tejodhātu), I quickly heated the water.
Amazed, they made this matter known to the excellent Victor;
hearing it, the Protector, gladdened, spoke this verse:
"Though one should live a hundred years, indolent, deficient in energy,
better is the life of a single day for one who firmly arouses energy."
The Great Hero, satisfied with me because of my good practice,
that Great Sage declared me foremost of those with aroused energy.
My defilements (kilesa) have been burnt up; all existences have been uprooted;
like a she-elephant that has severed her bonds, I dwell free of taints.
Welcome indeed was my coming into the presence of the Best of Buddhas!
The three true knowledges (vijjā) have been attained; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
The four analytical knowledges (paṭisambhidā), and these eight liberations (vimokkha) too,
and the six direct knowledges (abhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed did the bhikkhunī Soṇā speak these verses.
The Apadāna of Soṇā Therī is concluded.
The Apadāna of Bhaddā Kāpilānī Therī, the seventh (27)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.