Rohini

Category: Therigatha

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

• Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

[Rohini's father:]

You go to sleep saying, "Contemplatives." You wake up, "Contemplatives." You praise only contemplatives. No doubt you will be a contemplative.

Abundant food & drink you give to contemplatives. Now, Rohini, I ask you: Why do you hold contemplatives dear?

They don't like to work, they're lazy, living off what's given by others, full of hankerings, wanting delicious things: Why do you hold contemplatives dear?

[Rohini:]

For a long time, father, you've quizzed me about contemplatives. I'll praise to you their discernment, virtue, endeavor.

They do like to work, they're not lazy. They do the best work: They abandon passion & anger. That's why I hold contemplatives dear.

They rid themselves of the three evil roots,1 doing pure actions. All their evil's abandoned. That's why I hold contemplatives dear.

Clean their bodily action, so is their verbal action. Clean their mental action: That's why I hold contemplatives dear.

Spotless, like mother of pearl, pure within & without, perfect in clear qualities: That's why I hold contemplatives dear.

Learned, maintaining the Dhamma, noble, living the Dhamma, they teach the goal & the Dhamma: That's why I hold contemplatives dear.

Learned, maintaining the Dhamma, noble, living the Dhamma, with unified minds & mindful: That's why I hold contemplatives dear.

Traveling far, mindful, giving counsel unruffled, they discern the end of suffering: That's why I hold contemplatives dear.

When they leave any village they don't turn to look back at anything. How free from concern they go! That's why I hold contemplatives dear.

They don't store in a granary, pot, or basket. They hunt [only] for what's already cooked: That's why I hold contemplatives dear.

They take neither silver, nor gold, nor money. They live off whatever is present: That's why I hold contemplatives dear.

Having gone forth from different families & from different countries, still they hold one another dear: That's why I hold contemplatives dear.

[Rohini's father:]

Rohini, truly for our well-being were you born in our family. You have conviction in the Buddha & Dhamma, and strong respect for the Sangha.

You truly discern this field of merit unexcelled. These contemplatives will receive our offering, too, for here we'll set up our abundant sacrifice.

[Rohini:]

If you're afraid of pain, if you dislike pain, go to the Buddha for refuge, go to the Dhamma & Sangha. Take on the precepts: That will lead to your well-being.

[Rohini's father:]

I go to the Buddha for refuge; I go to the Dhamma & Sangha. I take on the precepts: That will lead to my well-being.

Before, I was a kinsman to Brahma; now, truly a brahman. I'm a three-knowledge man & safe, consummate in knowledge, washed clean.